HOME DEPARTMENT

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average cost to the police of applying for an antisocial behaviour order.

John Denham: Based on a survey of 21 cases conducted in April this year, the average cost of an antisocial behaviour order (ASBO) was calculated to be £4,800. This is the cost to either the police or the local authority and includes the staff costs associated with evidence gathering, preparing the case and attending court. It does not include dealing with appeals and breaches. Fuller details will be included in the review of ASBOs which we are aiming to publish by the end of the year.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  for what reason no statement was made at Home Office questions on 22 October in respect of the under-reporting of antisocial behaviour orders; and when he plans to make a statement;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the reasons underlying the under-reporting of antisocial behaviour orders.

John Denham: holding answer 1 November 2001
	In response to a written question on 22 October 2001, Official Report, column 71W, I did in fact state that there had been some under-reporting of antisocial behaviour orders, and that we would be undertaking a one-off reconciliation exercise to establish its extent. I intend to announce its results in due course.

Police

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on plans to change the status of plain-clothed police officers to uniformed officers; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: We want to enhance the visibility of the police in a common-sense way as part of our programme for police reform. This means that, on some occasions, officers will be in plain clothes and, on others, in uniform. The decision on how this should be applied rests with local management.
	Officers in uniform and in plain clothes are equally important and valued in their different roles: uniformed duties should not be regarded as of lesser status.

Police

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have (a) retired and (b) joined since 1997 in (i) east Sussex and (ii) the Senlac division.

John Denham: The Sussex police are unable to provide information on either recruitment or retirement at divisional level since 1997. East Sussex is an integral part of the Sussex police. Information on recruitment and retirements is therefore for the force area as a whole for the four years to March 2001.
	The table sets out recruitment and retirement figures for the Sussex police. Information on retirement and recruitment for the first six months of 2001–02 will be available in December.
	
		
			 Year Recruitment Retirements 
		
		
			 1997–98 135 128 
			 1998–99 109 127 
			 1999–2000 101 107 
			 2000–01 206 106

Islamic Fundamentalists

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the criminal law relating to common purpose with reference to the issues of (a) terrorism and (b) the activities of Islamic fundamentalist extremists; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: I have no such plans at present. I outlined the legislative steps necessary to counter the threat from terrorism in my statement to the House on 15 October 2001, Official Report, column 923. However, the Law Commission is conducting a major review of the whole area of inchoate offences and secondary liability, which will include this area.

Speed Cameras

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will outline the type approval process for speed cameras and publish the operational guidance he has given to the police to avoid motorists being punished for errors caused by camera malfunction.

John Denham: Any manufacturer wishing to seek type approval for a new speed camera device may approach either the Home Office or the Association of Chief Police Officers. The device in question will need to meet an operational need and either represent a technical advance or introduce greater competition into the market.
	The Association of Chief Police Officers' Road Policing Enforcement Technology Committee considers representations from manufacturers seeking type approval. Where the Committee is satisfied that basic requirements are met, field tests are carried out and the Home Office, working with independent laboratories, conducts rigorous technical tests to ensure that the device is robust and reliable and that it can produce accurate readings or images under a variety of extreme conditions. The Home office has published handbooks for manufacturers about the procedures for type approval, outlining the requirements and specifications.
	The Home Office provides a type approval order for any device which fully meets the specifications, and the device is approved for police use from the date of the order.
	Operational guidance to the police concerning all road enforcement issues, including malfunctioning devices, is provided by the Road Policing Enforcement Technology Committee, and I am placing a copy in the Library. The Committee is reviewing the current guidance and will publish new Codes of Practice for forces towards the end of this year. Advice to police forces is that they should abandon any prosecution where there is doubt about the reliability of the device involved in providing the evidence.

CCTV (Northamptonshire)

Tony Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the impact of CCTV on the level of crime in Northampton.

John Denham: Police operational experience and various research studies show that Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) has considerable crime reduction and detection potential, particularly when used as part of a wider strategy.
	The Home Office has made no formal evaluation of the effectiveness of CCTV in Northampton. However, the Northampton Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership consider that CCTV has contributed to the 5.9 per cent. overall fall in recorded crime in Northampton last year.
	Northampton's existing CCTV system was recently expanded, with £155,000 funding from the Crime Reduction Programme CCTV Initiative, to include Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology. According to figures provided by the Partnership, since the introduction of ANPR, vehicle-related crime in Northampton has decreased by 21.6 per cent. against the same period last year. The scheme has led to 346 arrests as well as the recovery of 31 stolen vehicles and property worth £150,000.
	In the first six months of the introduction of CCTV at Sixfields Leisure Park car park, Northampton, last year, there was a 40 per cent. reduction in theft of cars and a 50 per cent. reduction in theft from cars.
	Further funding of £148,000 to expand the Northampton CCTV system to cover three residential areas has recently been approved under Round 2 of the CCTV Initiative, to target burglary, vehicle crime, antisocial behaviour, drugs offences and youth crime.

Car Phones

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance has been issued to police who stop people who are using a hand-held mobile phone when driving.

John Denham: holding answer 1 November 2001
	There is no specific offence of using a hand-held mobile phone while driving, and accordingly no guidance has been issued. Existing legislation places the responsibility on drivers to have proper control of their vehicles at all times. Any motorist who fails to do so, for whatever reason, is liable to be prosecuted by the police. Drivers may be charged with failing to exercise proper control of a vehicle, careless and inconsiderate driving, or even dangerous driving, if using a mobile phone causes them to drive in such a manner.
	In line with the commitment given in the Road Safety Strategy we are keeping under review the case for specific legislation. At present, however, we share the view of the Association of Chief Police Officers what existing legislation provides sufficient powers to prosecute successfully any driving offences that may arise from the use of mobile phones. Our focus is therefore on raising awareness of road safety risks.

Crime Targets

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason the goal to increase by 100,000 the number of recorded crimes for which an offender is brought to justice has not been met; if he has plans to revise this target; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: holding answer 1 November 2001
	As the White Paper "Criminal Justice: The Way Ahead" made clear, the criminal justice system-wide target to increase by 100,000 the number of recorded crimes ending in an offender being brought to justice has been set to be met by 2004.

Crime Targets

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to make changes to the definition of "brought to justice" for the purposes of departmental targets; and what factors will be taken into account in his decision.

John Denham: holding answer 1 November 2001
	I have no plans at present to change the definition of "brought to justice" used in the attrition target.

Foreign Armed Forces (UK Citizens)

Richard Page: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what statutory powers govern the rights of UK citizens to serve with foreign armed forces;
	(2)  what statutory powers he has to take action against British citizens serving with foreign armed forces.

John Denham: There are a number of offences for which a person serving with a foreign armed force could be prosecuted. Whether an offence has been committed and a prosecution is justified in an individual case, and, if so, what the appropriate charge is, are matters for the Crown Prosecution Service to decide after a full police investigation.
	There are a number of protections under international instruments for those serving with armed forces, whether foreign or United Kingdom.

Police Reform

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment he has made of the level of support within ACPO for his police reform programme, with particular reference to proposals relating to the responsibility for charging suspects.

John Denham: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I have regular discussions with members of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) on a variety of policing issues. It is evident from those meetings that there is broad support within the Association for the police reform programme.
	The proposal that responsibility for charging suspects should be transferred from the police to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) was made by Sir Robin Auld in his Review of Criminal Courts, the report of which is now out to consultation. The views of the ACPO on this and other recommendations in the report are awaited.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Commissioner for Standards

Peter Bottomley: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission 
	(1)  when the Commission (a) decided and (b) announced that a Commissioner for Standards would not necessarily be invited to accept a first re-appointment without open competition;
	(2)  when the conclusions of the studies of staff overloading in the office of the Parliamentary Commissioner were sent to the (a) Commission and (b) the Select Committee on Standards and Privileges.

Archy Kirkwood: On (a) I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 2 May 2001, Official Report, columns 640–41W. On (b) staffing issues are a matter for the House of Commons Commission: no official report on the staffing of the Commissioner's office has been made to the Select Committee on Standards and Privileges.

Commissioner for Standards

Peter Bottomley: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commissioner will seek the views of the Commissioner for Public Appointments on the timing and substance of their decisions on open competition for the post of Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.

Archy Kirkwood: The appointment of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards is not within the remit of the Commission for Public Appointments. However, the House of Commons Commission is applying the general principles set out by the Commission for Public Appointments, so far as they are applicable to the circumstances of this appointment.

Commissioner for Standards

Peter Bottomley: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, when the advertisement for the post of Commissioner for Standards will be published; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

Archy Kirkwood: The House of Commons Commission has agreed that an advertisement should appear in the national press on Sunday 4 November. A copy will be placed in the Library.

Commissioner for Standards

Peter Bottomley: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, when the Commission (a) decided and (b) told the Commissioner for Standards that she would be invited to re-apply for her post.

Archy Kirkwood: The matter was considered by the Commission on 15 October. The Commissioner was told of its decision the next day.

Commissioner for Standards

Peter Bottomley: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, when, and by what means, the former Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards was consulted about possible re-appointment; and what advice he was given about the nature of the competition.

Archy Kirkwood: The first Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Sir Gordon Downey, indicated before the expiration of his term that he intended to retire. The matter did not therefore arise.

House of Commons Commission

Peter Bottomley: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will make available to hon. Members the (a) agendas and (b) minutes of proceedings of the Commission.

Archy Kirkwood: The Commission meetings are deliberative and its papers are not published. The Commission publishes considerable details about management and services in its annual report, the last of which was published on 18 July 2001. The Commission is at present considering what information it could usefully place on the parliamentary intranet.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Religious Broadcasting (Digital Licences)

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his policy is on the renewal of Premier Christian Radio's analogue licence and its replacement by a digital licence.

Kim Howells: Premier Christian Radio has now withdrawn its judicial review proceedings challenging the Radio Authority's decision that it is disqualified from holding a digital multiplex licence and/or a digital sound programme licence.
	The Radio Authority advertised Premier's local analogue licence on 18 September with a closing date for applications on 8 January. All MPs with constituencies in Greater London (111 of them) have been written to inviting their comments. The date of the award will depend on whether or not the Authority receives any competition for the licence, but will probably be in March or April.
	Under the current legislation, the Radio Authority is prevented from awarding religious bodies a local digital sound programme licence. The Government are committed to bringing forward legislation in the forthcoming Communications Bill which would remove this prohibition. The position in relation to local multiplex licences is still under consideration.

Departmental Spending (Deprived Areas)

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much of the expenditure by her Department in each of the years (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99, (d) 1999–2000, (e) 2000–01, (f) 2001–02 and (g) 2002–03 (estimated) was allocated with reference to the Index of Multiple Deprivation; which expenditure programmes are allocated with respect to this Index and other measures of relative geographic deprivation; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: holding answer 25 October 2001
	There are two major schemes for which my Department has made expenditure allocations during the period with reference to the Index of Multiple Deprivation.
	The Department allocated £75 million from the Capital Modernisation Fund for Space for Sport and Arts. Expenditure will start this year and extend into 2003–04. This scheme, sponsored with the Department for Education and Skills, seeks to provide in the areas of greatest need around 300 new sports and arts facilities in primary schools for use by both pupils and the wider community. This funding is being supplemented by Lottery funding of £25 million from Sport England, £25 million from the New Opportunities Fund and £5 million from the Arts Council of England. The Department invited 65 local education authorities to participate in the scheme. These were selected using a number of indices of educational, socio-economic, sporting and cultural deprivation—including the DTLR's indices of deprivation 2000; meeting the criteria for other programmes such as Education Action Zones, Excellence in Cities, Sports Action Zones and Health Action Zones; nomination by Regional Arts Boards; and being within the Arts Council of England's priority regions.
	The Department has also allocated £40 million (£15 million in 2002–03 and £25 million in 2003–04) to the Arts Council of England for the establishment of 16 pilot Creative Partnerships in deprived areas to provide exciting and challenging opportunities for young people to experience, learn from and enjoy artistic and creative activities. The partnerships, which will be run by the Arts Council, will focus on bringing together schools, arts and other creative organisations and commercial creative industries to provide enhanced opportunities for every school child in the chosen areas of deprivation. DTLR's Index of Multiple Deprivation, was used in determining these areas. Other measures of economic and educational deprivation and an assessment of cultural deprivation were also taken into account. The Department also considered the capacity of the areas selected to deliver Creative Partnerships, the need for balanced geographical spread and the inclusion of rural and coastal areas as well as urban ones.
	In addition, many programmes and initiatives run by Lottery distributors are targeted at deprived areas, using the Index of Multiple Deprivation and a variety of other indicators.

Energy Efficiency Week

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what action her Department took in recognition of Energy Efficiency Week.

Kim Howells: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport did not take any specific actions for Energy Efficiency Week but continued with longer-term projects to meet, and exceed, the Government targets in respect of energy saving. Through the Royal Parks Agency projects to produce electricity through wind power, water power and solar energy are being planned at Bushey Park. Those projects, together with a combined heat and power project using managed forestry and the produce from normal land management as fuel, will heat a swimming pool, supply electricity to some parts of the park and, possibly, export some power to the national grid.

Departmental Publications

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many publications were issued by her Department in each of the last four years.

Kim Howells: The number of publications issued by my Department in each of the last four years was:
	
		
			 Year Number 
		
		
			 1997–98 12 
			 1998–99 18 
			 1999–2000 31 
			 2000–01 26 
		
	
	To date, nine publications have been produced in the 2001–02 financial year.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions she has had with Fakhdar Brahimi, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Afghanistan, regarding the involvement of women in the talks involving interested parties to a post-Taliban Government for Afghanistan.

Clare Short: I met Ambassador Brahimi on 9 October and reiterated our support for his efforts to develop a broad-based and representative Afghan Government. Ambassador Brahimi has demonstrated a commitment to addressing the human rights dimension of the governance of Afghanistan. The involvement of women in those discussions and the use of expertise on gender issues will help to ensure that the rights of the entire population of Afghanistan are protected and promoted, particularly recognising the complexity of gender issues in Afghanistan. We will continue to provide whatever assistance we can to Ambassador Brahimi and support the crucial role he plays in Afghanistan's future.

Third World Debt

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans the Government have to reduce third world debt; and what information she has collated on those of other European Union member states.

Clare Short: The Government have been at the forefront of global initiatives to tackle the unsustainable debt burden facing some developing countries, and led the way in securing the revision of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, which was agreed at the annual meetings of the World Bank and the IMF in September 1999. So far, 23 countries have qualified for this exceptional relief. More than $23 billion of debt relief has been agreed for those countries, which together owe $74 billion, so a major part of their debt has been written off.
	In December 2000, the Government announced that the UK would go further than is required under the HIPC initiative and would provide 100 per cent. bilateral debt relief to countries when they qualify for HIPC relief. We will hold all debt payments received from HIPC countries in trust and, at that point, will return these payments to them. In addition, the UK has pledged over $300 million to the HIPC trust fund to meet the costs to the multilateral development banks of delivering HIPC debt relief. This includes our share of $85 million in EC contribution. We have also provided $43 million to assist the IMF with their share of such costs.
	Most of our partner states in the European Union have also made bilateral contributions to the trust fund, on top of their share of the EC contribution. In addition, those member states that are major creditors deliver bilateral debt relief through the Paris Club of Official Bilateral Creditors to countries that have qualified for HIPC relief, with the majority providing 100 per cent. debt relief on their remaining bilateral debts.

Summer Recess (Departmental Publications)

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many (a) press notices and (b) consultation documents were issued by her Department during the summer recess.

Clare Short: My Department issued five press notices and no consultation documents during the summer recess.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Security Normalisation

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the direct costs are of the security normalisation measures he announced on 24 October.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 1 November 2001
	I have been asked to reply.
	The normalisation measures announced on 24 October 2001 were the closure of two observation towers on Camlough and Sturgan mountains, the sangar at Newtownhamilton, and an Army base at Magherafelt.
	Initial demolition work at all four sites has commenced with Royal Engineer manpower and helicopter support using assets already available in Province. Additional costs of some £10,000 have been incurred to date covering the hire of additional equipment such as cranes and skips.
	Further work will be required at each of the sites, and in many cases this will be done by civilian contractors. The scope and cost of these contracts is still being assessed.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Drainage Systems

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the policy of the Duchy of Lancaster is towards drainage works on tenanted agricultural land where those works are the responsibility of the landlord; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has asked me to reply.
	Responsibility for the drainage of tenanted agricultural land is laid down in farm tenancy agreements. The Duchy's policy is to abide by its contractual obligations under such agreements.

Drainage Systems

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the budget of the Duchy of Lancaster is in respect of the maintenance, repair and replacement of drainage systems on Duchy agricultural land.

Christopher Leslie: My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has asked me to reply.
	The budget of the Duchy of Lancaster for the maintenance and repair of agricultural property for the year to March 2002 is £173,100 which is not allocated to specific types of repair.

Better Regulation Task Force

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he last met the Chairman of the Better Regulation Task Force.

Christopher Leslie: My right hon. Friend Lord Macdonald is the Minister responsible for regulatory reform. He last met Lord Haskins, Chairman of the Better Regulation Task Force, on 23 October.

Deregulation

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to (a) reduce and (b) limit the number of regulations affecting industry.

Christopher Leslie: The Government are committed to minimising the burden of regulation on business.
	A Regulatory Impact Assessment is required for each new proposal for regulation affecting business to ensure it is necessary and that the benefits justify the costs. The Panel for Regulatory Accountability, now given Cabinet Committee status, meets regularly to discuss regulatory performance with departmental Ministers.
	The Regulatory Reform Act 2001 now provides a useful tool for reforming over-burdensome, over-complex and outdated primary legislation.
	A draft Regulatory Reform Order (relaxing licensing in pubs and clubs for the forthcoming new year's eve) has already been laid before Parliament for scrutiny, and consultation exercises on a further eight proposals have now finished. There is one consultation exercise on reform of credit unions currently under way.

Cabinet Office Refurbishment

Norman Baker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the improvements being carried out to accommodate him at the Cabinet Office indicating the cost of each item of improvement; and when he expects the improvements to be completed.

Christopher Leslie: The office of the Deputy Prime Minister will move to the Ripley building when renovations are completed next summer. A very small number of modifications to the original plan will be made to accommodate ministerial offices (for example blocking off and opening up doorways).

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

UK Gas Market

Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent action the Government have taken to address concerns about the UK gas market; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: The Government are very aware of concerns about the operation of the GB gas market in the light of rising gas prices. While we remain convinced that the primary reason behind the increase is arbitrage across the interconnector with high oil related gas prices in the European market, we are aware of the need to consider the impact of the operation of the other parts of the gas chain on the downstream market. Indeed, this forms an integral part of our strategy to address gas prices.
	The Government have therefore today published a consultation document entitled "A Consultation On Concerns About Gas Prices And Possible Improvements To Market Efficiency", which considers the various concerns made about the gas market. The document also considers the wider benefits to the gas market of increased information flows between the onshore and the offshore. This builds on a joint workshop with the United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association held on 10 September.
	The intention behind the document is to stimulate debate and to see if the concerns stand up to scrutiny. If we find any evidence of actual anti-competitive behaviour we shall bring it to the attention of the appropriate competition authority.
	Copies of the consultation document can be found on the Department of Trade and Industry's website at www.dti.gov.uk/energy

Mineshafts

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Minister of State intends to meet with parliamentary colleagues to discuss the Government's response to the Herriot-Watt report on mineshafts.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 22 October 2001
	I am pleased to confirm that a meeting with parliamentary colleagues to discuss the Herriot-Watt University report on mineshafts has been arranged for 15 November.

Microsoft

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she has taken to review the implications of (a) US and (b) EU competition policy rulings for Microsoft's operations in the UK, with particular reference to Microsoft's contracts with the Government and their agencies.

Melanie Johnson: The implications of the US and EC competition inquiries for Government contracts with Microsoft are being carefully considered.

Car Prices

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the cost of purchasing vehicles in (a) the UK and (b) the rest of Europe; what recent measures have been introduced to reduce the cost of cars in the UK; and what plans she has to take further measures.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 30 October 2001
	Both the Competition Commission, in its April 2000 monopoly report, and the European Commission, in its six-monthly surveys of prices, report prices in the UK to be significantly higher than in comparable countries in Europe.
	The Competition Commission blamed the high prices of cars in the UK on practices associated with the selective and exclusive distribution system used by manufacturers, and allowed under the EC block exemption on vehicle distribution.
	The Government's view is that competition is the best safeguard of consumer interests and that the current block exemption is not satisfactory.
	The block exemption is due to expire in September 2002 and the European Commission is expected to publish draft proposals for reform around the turn of the year.

Sunset Clauses

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is in respect of the use of sunset clauses in legislation.

Patricia Hewitt: The Government's policy is always to consider whether sunset clauses ought to be included in legislation we bring forward.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what the estimated cost to British businesses is of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the effects of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

Brian Wilson: The directive is currently in draft form and a full assessment of the costs and effects will not be possible until it is published in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
	The Department of Trade and Industry submitted a partial Regulatory Impact Assessment on a previous draft of the proposal to the House on 2 October 2000. A copy of this was placed in the Library of the House.

Ineos Chlor Chemicals

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received regarding the future of the Ineos Chlor Chemicals plant in Runcorn; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The Department is in discussion with Ineos Chlor about its plans for the future of the Runcorn plant and with other interested parties. I met representatives of Ineos Chlor on 30 October.

Ineos Chlor Chemicals

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her policy is towards granting Government assistance to the Ineos Chlor Chemicals group; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The primary mechanism for giving direct financial assistance to companies in the Assisted Areas is Regional Selective Assistance (RSA). Companies have to meet the criteria applicable to the scheme before an offer can be made.

Electricity Supply

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information she has collated on the proportion of electricity supply met by (a) nuclear power, (b) coal-fired generation, (c) gas-fired generation, (d) oil- fired generation and (e) renewables for (i) each member country of the EU, (ii) the USA, (iii) Canada, (iv) Australia, (v) Russia, (vi) India and (vii) China.

Patricia Hewitt: Available information gives the proportion of gross electricity production in each country met from each fuel source. Some of the electricity produced may be exported while some countries may import electricity. The data are the latest available and relate to 1999.
	
		Proportion of each country's gross electricity production met from each energy source
		
			  Percentage  
			  Nuclear Coal(1) Gas(2) Oil Renewables(3) 
		
		
			  EU member states   
			 Austria — 9 14 5 72 
			 Belgium 58 15 23 1 3 
			 Denmark — 52 23 13 12 
			 Finland 33 21 14 1 31 
			 France 75 6 2 2 15 
			 Germany 31 51 10 1 7 
			 Greece — 65 8 17 10 
			 Ireland — 34 32 28 6 
			 Italy — 11 33 34 22 
			 Luxembourg — — 20 — 80 
			 Netherlands 4 25 57 8 6 
			 Portugal — 35 19 25 21 
			 Spain 28 36 9 12 15 
			 Sweden 47 2 — 2 49 
			 UK 26 29 39 1 5 
			   
			 USA 20 51 16 3 10 
			 Canada 13 19 4 3 61 
			 Australia — 78 11 1 10 
			 Russia 14 19 43 5 19 
			 India 2 75 6 1 16 
			 China 1 77 1 4 17 
		
	
	(1) Includes hard coal, sub bituminous coal, lignite and peat.
	(2) Includes natural gas and manufactured gases.
	(3) Includes geothermal, solar, wind, tide, wave, ocean, hydro and combustible renewables.
	Sources:
	EU, USA, Canada and Australia—"Electricity Information, 2001" published by the International Energy Agency (IEA). The information for Russia, India, China is taken from the IEA's database.

Better Regulation Task Force

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she last met the chairman of the better regulation task force.

Patricia Hewitt: I met Lord Haskins on 5 September.

Parliamentary Questions

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the holding answer of 22 October, ref: 2001/664, when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a substantive reply to his question.

Brian Wilson: I have answered my hon. Friend's question today, PQ No. 9348.

Fireworks

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what checks are carried out by the Health and Safety Executive prior to the (a) registration and (b) licensing of premises for the storage of fireworks.

Alan Whitehead: I have been asked to reply.
	HSE licenses all explosives factories and stores holding more than 7,200 kg of fireworks. Stores holding less than 7,200 kg must either be licensed by the local authority or, depending on the quantity held, registered with it.
	Where HSE is the licensing authority it considers a range of issues including the nature of the processes, the layout of the site and the construction of the buildings. In particular it will wish to ensure that adequate separation distances are maintained between explosives buildings and other buildings both on and off site. The draft licence is then submitted to the local authority for its assent. HSE will also make an inspection visit before operations start to ensure that the factory or store complies with the licence conditions.
	Where the local authority is granting a licence it will normally check on the construction of the store and whether the distance between it and neighbouring inhabited buildings meets the minimum requirements. Registered premises are also subject to legal requirements. However due to the relatively small quantities involved local authorities would not normally undertake checks prior to registration.

DEFENCE

Defence Procurement Agency

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to merge the Defence Procurement Agency and the Defence Logistics Organisation; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: I have no plans to merge the Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) and the Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO). Both organisations are recently formed and have clear and distinct responsibilities, as set out in the Strategic Defence Review. The role of the DPA is to procure new equipment capability for the armed forces and to deliver this in accordance with agreed parameters for time, cost and performance. The DLO has been established to provide joint logistic support to the armed forces for training and operations, only one element of which is equipment support.
	Although I am not considering a merger of the two organisations, the Ministry of Defence continues to explore improvements to the way the DPA and DLO work together on the equipment programme. We are also introducing simpler, common processes and systems to improve interoperability. This is being pursued through a joint steering group set up to manage work under a number of approaches, key among which are finance management, human resources management, through-life management, e-business, key supplier management and common tools for integrated project teams.

Missile Defence

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions the Government have undertaken with NATO member states about the integration of NATO missile defence research with US plans to deploy a missile defence system.

Geoff Hoon: No such discussions have taken place. The NATO feasibility studies for theatre missile defence, which started in July 2001 and will take 18 months to complete, are looking at options for protecting NATO forces. They are different from plans for a limited missile defence for the United States.

Missile Defence

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Government are intending to participate in the US's expressed plan to develop a missile defence to protect the US and its allies.

Geoff Hoon: The President of the United States has made clear that he wants the US's friends and allies to be protected against the potential ballistic missile threat. But no specific proposals have been made. We have a long-standing dialogue with the US on missile defence, and are ready to discuss any specific proposals they might make.

Missile Defence

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the Government's policy is on the development of a ballistic missile defence shield.

Geoff Hoon: It remains premature to decide on acquiring a ballistic missile defence capability for the UK or our deployed forces. This is based on our current assessment of the threat, the rapidity with which defensive technologies are changing, and the need to address the threat through a range of measures. Our options for the future remain open.

Missile Defence

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what joint US-UK research projects are under development in support of the US missile defence plans; and if he will place an unclassified list of the projects in the Library.

Geoff Hoon: Joint US/UK research projects in support of missile defence are undertaken under the auspices of the 1985 UK-US Strategic Defence Initiative Memorandum of Understanding. A list of the projects concerned was given in the answer I gave on 26 March 2001, Official Report, column 526W, to the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Mr. Taylor). No further agreements have been signed.

Missile Defence

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether (a) US and (b) UK policy on missile defence has changed since 11 September.

Geoff Hoon: UK policy on missile defence is unchanged. The United States Administration has made it clear that it remains committed to the deployment of a limited missile defence system for the United States, but they have not yet decided exactly what sort of system they will seek to deploy.

Afghanistan

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many enemy lock-ons have been detected by British aircraft over Afghan airspace.

Geoff Hoon: holding answer 29 October 2001
	None.

Afghanistan

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what stocks of cluster bombs are held by UK armed forces in the Afghan theatre of conflict.

Geoff Hoon: holding answer 30 October 2001
	There are currently a number of BL/RB 755 type cluster munitions on board RFA Fort Victoria, which is in the Afghan theatre of conflict. These weapons are for use by the GR7 Harrier aircraft, which is not deployed with the task force. There are, therefore, currently no plans for their use.

Afghanistan

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total cost is of Exercise Saif Sareea II; how much the Government have spent in total in its operations against Afghanistan and Osama bin Laden; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: Our most recent estimate of the cost of Exercise Saif Sareea II is around £90 million. We are confident that when all bills are finally presented, the actual cost will be within that estimate. With respect to Operations in Afghanistan, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 23 October 2001, Official Report, column 114W.

Afghanistan

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy not (a) to authorise and (b) to condone the use of cluster bombs in Afghanistan.

Geoff Hoon: Cluster bombs are legitimate weapons that have not been prohibited by any Treaty or Convention. Those used in Afghanistan contain bomblets designed to detonate on impact and to destroy buildings and vehicles. They are not designed as anti-personnel weapons and do not contain any landmines. They are the most effective weapon against certain targets. The coalition will continue to use them, with discretion and proportionality, against legitimate and appropriate terrorist and military targets.

Afghanistan

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what criteria are used to settle targets for bombing in Afghanistan; what definition of fixed military target is used; how many fixed military targets have been (a) identified and (b) attacked; how many such targets have been attacked more than once; and what assessment he has made of unintended damage to (i) property and (ii) people resulting from such attacks.

Geoff Hoon: It is not UK policy to comment in detail on targeting issues. Attacks are limited strictly to military objectives, including those objects which by their nature, location, purpose or use make an effective contribution to military action and whose total or partial destruction, capture or neutralisation, in the circumstance ruling at the time, offer a definite military advantage. Every effort is made to avoid incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians and damage to civilian objects when selecting targets for attack.
	As of 31 October, the total number of targets attacked is somewhat in excess of 100, of which around one half have been attacked more than once.
	Following an attack on a target, Battle Damage Assessment is conducted to establish the success of that attack. Although we investigate all claims carefully, it is impossible to make a precise assessment of exactly how many civilians may have been killed or injured as a result of coalition action. Painstaking efforts are taken to minimise any unintended injury or damage but, regrettably, on occasion mistakes will happen and where we know this has happened, the coalition has said so publicly. However, we are clear that Taliban reports of civilian casualties are grossly exaggerated.

Afghanistan

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what safeguards will be put in place to protect (a) UK and other military personnel and (b) civilians from hazardous residues from depleted uranium in the current conflict in Afghanistan.

Geoff Hoon: Depleted uranium-based ammunition has not been used in current operations in Afghanistan. We are not aware of any plans for it to be used in future.
	In the event that depleted uranium ammunition were to be used in Afghanistan and that UK service personnel might come into contact with it, appropriate guidelines would be issued to ensure that the already low risks to health were minimised.
	A great deal of information on depleted uranium has already been put into the public domain. Should the need arise, we would discuss with coalition partners and civil agencies what information needs to be made available to the Afghan civilian population. Regrettably, the activities of the Taliban authorities in restricting the flow of information into Afghanistan could make this unnecessarily difficult for UN and other agencies to achieve.

US Domestic Preparedness Programme

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 24 October 2001, Official Report, column 242W, on the US Domestic Preparedness Programme, what aspects of US homeland security he plans to implement in the United Kingdom.

Geoff Hoon: Following the events of 11 September, the Government embarked on a wide ranging review of all their established contingency plans to counter terrorism and manage the circumstances in the UK and the threat to UK security. While elements of the US response to terrorism could be relevant to the UK, our domestic security posture reflects the geography of the UK and the threat of terrorism here which are different from those of the US.
	We are conducting work, as I informed the House on 4 October, to ensure that we have the right concepts, force structures and capabilities in place to deal with asymmetric threats. This work will look both at the defence of the UK and our ability to counter and deter terrorism abroad. It is too early to say what measures we will implement as a result of this work, though consultation with the US and other Allies will make an important contribution.

Departmental Expenditure

Rachel Squire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the overall expenditure by his Department in consultancy fees was in the financial years (a) 2000–01, (b) 1999–2000, (c) 1998–99, (d) 1997–98 and (e) 1996–97.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence's annual returns of expenditure on External Assistance, which include the payment of fees to consultants, for the years 1996–97 to 1999–2000, are available in the Library of the House.
	The expenditure return for 2000–01 is not yet available, but, in accordance with past practice, copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

Tracer Programme

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on the Tracer programme to date; and what further expenditure is planned to the end of the programme.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 1 November 2001
	UK expenditure on the Tracer programme to 30 September 2001 is £108 million. A further £23 million has been committed for the planned completion of the current assessment phase in July 2002 when the collaborative programme will end.

HMNB Clyde

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress is being made on the contractorisation of his Department's civilians at HMNB Clyde; and what the time scale is for the change.

Lewis Moonie: Proposals have now been received from the Dockyard companies for partnering arrangements with the three Naval Bases at Portsmouth, Devonport and Clyde with the aim of modernising warship support. Alternative proposals have also been received from the joint Ministry of Defence Trades Unions and these are being assessed alongside the Company proposals. On current plans we would expect to announce the decision on the way ahead in the new year, with transition to any new arrangements anticipated to complete next summer.

Challenger II

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the manufacture of ammunition for the Challenger II main battle tank.

Lewis Moonie: The final batch of the armour piercing round (CHARM 3) has recently been manufactured and this completes current plans for the procurement of Challenger II ammunition other than the Squash Head Practise training round.

Disinfectants and Repellents

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if disinfectants and repellents for use by HM forces in hot climates are hazardous to health; and to what extent the instructions for their use are clear to users.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence uses a wide range of disinfectants and repellents, many of which are subject to the requirements of the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH). These regulations require that an assessment of the risks to health and of the actions that need to be taken when using such a substance are carried out before it is used. Among other things, the assessment must consider the circumstances of use—for example whether it will be used in a hot or cold environment, in windy conditions, or in a confined space—and the information, instruction and training that must be provided for the eventual user, MOD and HM forces have management systems in place to ensure that such COSHH assessments are undertaken, that their conclusions are implemented and that, among other things, clear information, instruction and training is provided for and to the user.

HMS Ocean

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when HMS Ocean came into service; how long her refit is scheduled to take; and when she will return to service.

Lewis Moonie: HMS Ocean was handed over to the Royal Navy in March 1999 and her first refit is not planned to take place until 2008. However, in order to enable her to continue to operate until then, she will require a routine docking period. It had been planned to begin this work in January 2002 at Portsmouth, but due to current operational circumstances it has been decided to postpone the docking period. Instead, some essential maintenance work will be undertaken at her base port, Devonport, when she returns from the Gulf in late November. This will enable Ocean to be made available for operational programming early in 2002 rather than in late spring, which would have been the case had her docking period proceeded as planned.

Golden Jubilee

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans Her Majesty's Government have made for the armed forces to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty's reign; and if it is proposed to issue medals.

Lewis Moonie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 23 November 2000, Official Report, column 294W, to my hon. Friend the Member for High Peak (Mr. Levitt), which detailed the plans for the Queen's Golden Jubilee. The then Home Secretary my right hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw) announced on 15 February 2001 that there would be a Golden Jubilee Medal.

Golden Jubilee

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is to be the cost of issuing the Queen's Jubilee Medal to members of the armed forces with five years service; what the cost of issuing the medal to all members of the armed forces would have been; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The estimated cost of awarding the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal to all those members of the armed forces, volunteer reserve forces and the royal fleet auxiliary who will have completed five years' qualifying service on 6 February 2002, is £3.8 million. The funding that would be required to include all those who are serving on that date would be an additional £1.8 million.
	The potential cost of the medal was not a deciding factor in determining the qualifying criteria. The requirement for a minimum of five years' qualifying service gives due recognition to those who have committed themselves to and completed a significant period of service to the Crown.

Scottish Regiments

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what plans exist to house Scottish regiments in Scotland;
	(2)  where the Scottish regiments are stationed; and where their postings will be in the future.

Lewis Moonie: Scottish regiments are routinely based in Scotland. Currently, The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons) are stationed at Redford Barracks, Edinburgh and The Royal Highland Fusiliers (Princess Margaret's Own Glasgow and Ayrshire Regiment) at Fort George, Inverness. Such deployments will continue in future, as part of the Army's Arms Plot.
	The current location of the other Scottish regiments of the Foot Guards, Scottish Division and Royal Armoured Corps are as follows: Wellington Barracks, London (Scots Guards); Somme Barracks, Catterick (The King's Own Scottish Borders); Ballykelly, Northern Ireland (The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment)); Belfast, Northern Ireland (The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's)); and Fallingbostel, Germany (The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) and The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys)).
	During the next 12 months, it is planned that The Royal Scots will be posted to Dreghorn Barracks, Edinburgh.

Defence Contracts

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what defence contracts are placed in Scotland; what is their total value; with what firms they have been placed; what is the value to each firm; and what is the timescale over which each contract will be paid to the contractors.

Lewis Moonie: Information at the level of detail requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. In addition, details of individual contracts and their values are withheld under Exemption 14 (Information given in confidence) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. However, in respect of contracts placed in Scotland, I draw the hon. Member's attention to the publication, "UK Defence Statistics 2001", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. Table 1.9 contains information on defence expenditure on equipment in UK regions, including Scotland.

Defence Agencies

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the defence agencies, the location of each of their headquarters, the staff totals of each, the numbers of each of their staffs in Scotland, their annual expenditure, and their annual expenditure in Scotland, in the last available year.

Lewis Moonie: Information about Defence Agencies, including the location of their headquarters, the number of staff employed and their annual expenditure, have been given in Annexe K of the Ministry of Defence Departmental Performance Report 1999–2000, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. I will write to the hon. Member about the other aspects of his question and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Defence Agencies

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the defence agencies that have trading status.

Lewis Moonie: Currently, four defence agencies operate as Trading Funds. They are: the Meteorological Office, the UK Hydrographic Office, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, and the Defence Aviation Repair Agency.

Vaccinations

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the vaccinations available to service personnel as protection against chemical and biological warfare have been (a) tested and (b) improved since the Gulf war; and if they are free from hazardous side effects.

Lewis Moonie: The only immunisation used to protect UK service personnel against the possible use of biological warfare agents during the Gulf conflict, which is still in use, is an anthrax vaccine. No significant alterations to this vaccine as used by the Ministry of Defence have been made since the Gulf conflict. No serious side effects have been reported. No immunisations were or are used to protect against chemical warfare agents.

Vaccinations

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if UK military personnel involved in the conflict in Afghanistan will be obliged to be vaccinated against exposure to chemical and biological warfare.

Geoff Hoon: We take all measures necessary to ensure that service personnel are afforded appropriate protection against chemical and biological warfare agents commensurate with the perceived threat. The only licensed vaccine currently used to protect UK service personnel against exposure to biological warfare agents is an anthrax vaccine. The vaccine is offered to specific units of our armed forces on the basis of an assessment of the threat they face, which in turn depends on their deployment role. We continually review whether it is appropriate to offer anthrax vaccine to personnel who may be involved in new deployments, as part of their wider package of protective measures against chemical or biological attack. Vaccination of UK service personnel is not obligatory but voluntary, and is given on the basis of informed consent.
	It is not possible to vaccinate against chemical warfare agents.

TREASURY

Taxation

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of married or cohabiting couples with children where neither partner is a higher rate taxpayer whose combined taxable income exceeds the higher rate threshold by (a) less than £7,800 and (b) more than £7,800.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 16 July 2001
	The number of married or cohabiting couples with children where neither partner is a higher rate taxpayer whose combined taxable income exceeds the higher rate threshold by (a) less than £7,800 is estimated to be 500,000 and (b) more than £7,800 is estimated to be 900,000.

Taxation

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to improve the reliability of the conventions, assumptions and sampling methods used to calculate the (a) direct and (b) indirect tax burden on typical households; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Smith: The conventions and assumptions used to calculate (a) the direct tax burden are reliable and are set out in the Tax and Benefit Reference Manual. On (b), as the Tax and Benefit Reference Manual has made clear, estimates on the indirect tax burden on typical households are not made because spending patterns vary considerably between households of the same type and income.

Equitable Life

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what considerations underlay the policy of the FSA and the Treasury on informing Equitable Life insurance policy holders on the sufficiency of funds within the with-profit fund to cover guaranteed annuity rate liabilities.

Ruth Kelly: Both Government and regulators are concerned to see that insurance and investment businesses comply with the statutory and regulatory requirements placed on them.
	Insurance companies are subject to statutory disclosure requirements under the Insurance Companies Act 1982 and the Companies Acts. Investment firms are also subject to prudential and conduct of business regulation.

National Insurance Contribution Office

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average length of time taken by the contracted- out employment group of the National Insurance Contribution Office to provide figures for contracted out schemes to buy members back into the state system in the last five years; how many cases have taken longer than the average time; and what the length of period involved was.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 26 October 2001
	The information requested is not available.

Colorectal Cancers

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths there were in (a) absolute numbers and (b) per capita of the whole population; and what the five year survival rate was of sufferers of colorectal cancers in each region and nation of the UK in (i) 1998, (ii)1999 and (iii) 2000.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Jim Cousins, dated 31 October 2001
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question concerning how many deaths there were in (a) absolute numbers and (b) per capita of the whole population; and what the five year survival rate was of sufferers of colorectal cancers in each region and nation of the UK in (i) 1998, (ii) 1999 and (iii) 2000. (10938).
	The latest available information on five year survival from colorectal cancer in the UK and the numbers and age-standards rates 1 of deaths (person) from colorectal cancer 2 for England and its constituent Health Regions, and the other countries of the UK in 1998, 1999 and 2000 3 are given in the attached tables.
	The results for England and its regions, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, are based on cases diagnosed during 1992–94, 1985–89, 1991–95, and 1993–96, respectively; and followed up to the end of 1999, 1994, 1998 and 1999, respectively.
	The figures for England and its regions are directly comparable, but because of the differences in coverage and end of follow up, and for other reasons, the figures for the separate countries of the UK are not, and they cannot be made so.
	
		
			  Number of deaths Rate(4) per 100,000 population  
			 Country/region(7) 1998 1999 2000 1998 1999 2000 
		
		
			 England 13,962 13,613 13,223 20.4 19.8 19.0 
			 Northern and Yorkshire 1,860 1,743 1,815 21.1 19.8 20.5 
			 Trent 1,482 1,497 1,365 20.5 20.7 18.5 
			 Eastern 1,516 1,443 1,391 19.8 18.7 17.6 
			 London 1,554 1,407 1,408 18.8 17.0 16.9 
			 South East 2,468 2,448 2,327 20.0 19.5 18.5 
			 South West 1,549 1,641 1,556 19.3 20.3 18.9 
			 West Midlands 1,565 1,542 1,519 21.7 21.2 20.4 
			 North West 1,968 1,892 1,842 22.0 21.0 20.5 
			 Wales 994 971 990 22.8 21.9 22.3 
			 Scotland 1,660 1,698 1,616 24.5 24.8 23.2 
			 Northern Ireland 443 410 N/A 22.9 20.7 N/A 
		
	
	(4) Age standardised using the European standard population
	(5) International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, codes 153 and 154, except for Scotland in 2000: International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, codes C18-C21
	(6) Data for England and Wales based on deaths occurring each year, excluding non-residents. Data for Scotland and Northern Ireland based on deaths registered each year, including non-residents
	(7) Boundaries as at 1 April 1999
	Sources:
	Office for National Statistics, General Register Office for Scotland, and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency
	
		
			 Country/region(12) Cancer site(13) Sex(13) 5 year relative survival (%) 
		
		
			 England Colon Male 42.6 
			   Females 42.1 
			 Northern and Yorkshire Colon Persons 38.3 
			 Trent Colon Persons 38.5 
			 Eastern Colon Persons 42.7 
			 London Colon Persons 41.2 
			 South East Colon Persons 45.7 
			 South West Colon Persons 46.6 
			 West Midlands Colon Persons 42.9 
			 North West Colon Persons 38.8 
		
	
	Source:
	England: Office for National Statistics. Cancer survival 1992–1999. London: ONS, 31 January 2001
	
		
			 Country/region(12) Cancer site(13) Sex(13) 5 year relative survival (%) 
		
		
			 Wales Large bowel Males 39 
			   Females 42 
		
	
	Source:
	Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit. Cancer Registration and Survival in Wales 1985–1994. Cardiff: WCISU, 1999
	
		
			 Country/region(12) Cancer site(13) Sex(13) 5 year relative survival (%) 
		
		
			 Scotland Colon Males 45.0 
			   Females 45.1 
			  Rectum Males 42.8 
			   Females 45.0 
		
	
	Source:
	Scottish Cancer Intelligence Unit. Trends in Cancer Survival in Scotland 1971–1995. Edinburgh: Information & Statistics Division NHS in Scotland, 2000
	
		
			 Country/region(12) Cancer site(13) Sex(13) 5 year relative survival (%) 
		
		
			 Northern Ireland Colon Males 49 
			   Females 51 
			  Rectum Males 49 
			   Females 48 
		
	
	(8) Boundaries as at 1st April 1999.
	(9) Survival rates for cancers of the colon and rectum are closely similar. As survival rates from colorectal cancer for males and females are closely similar (see figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland) the more precise figures for all persons (males and females combined) are given for the regions of England
	Source:
	Fitzpatrick DA, Gavin AT. Survival of Cancer Patients in Northern Ireland 1993–1996. Belfast: Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, 2001

Euro

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the proposed date for a referendum on euro entry.

Ruth Kelly: The Government's policy on the euro remains as set out by the Chancellor in his statement to Parliament in October 1997 and restated by the Prime Minister in February 1999. The Government have said they will complete an assessment of the five tests within two years of the start of this Parliament. Once the assessment has been completed, the Government will make a decision on UK membership of the single currency. If the Government recommend UK entry, it will be put to a vote in Parliament and then to a referendum of the British people.

Individual Learning Accounts

Howard Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to undertake a review of the operation of individual learning accounts to ensure that the introduction of the child trust fund or saving gateway does not give rise to fraud. [R]

Ruth Kelly: The Government launched consultation on further proposals to encourage saving and asset-building, especially among households with low incomes, in "Saving and Assets for All" published by HM Treasury in April 2001. The consultation is focused on proposals for the child trust fund and the saving gateway. The Government intend to report back on the results from the consultation and on their further intentions for these initiatives around the time of the pre-Budget report in autumn 2001. The Government will continue to develop these proposals, including through consultation with interested parties such as financial services providers, to ensure that concerns, including the possibility of fraud, are properly addressed.

Energy Efficiency Week

John Barrett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action his Department took in recognition of Energy Efficiency Week.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to him by the Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 30 October 2001, Official Report, column 592W.
	HM Treasury is continually looking to introduce saving schemes to the Department. For example, we registered with the Watermark Project to reduce water consumption in the Parliament street building and have implemented all their recommendations and have taken advantage of a shared saving scheme.

Departmental Publications

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many publications were issued by his Department in each of the last four years.

Ruth Kelly: Official documents produced since 1997 for external distribution by or on behalf of the Treasury are listed in the Department's annual report, "The Chancellor of the Exchequer's Departments: The Government's Expenditure Plans 2001–03 to 2003–04 and Main Estimates 2001–02", published in April 2001 and on the Treasury's public website.

Departmental Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish details of each Department's performance against its public service agreement targets.

Andrew Smith: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 25 October 2001, Official Report, column 373W.

Child Trust Funds

Howard Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  in the first year that child trust funds are available, if he will state his target for (a) the total number of people who will take advantage of a saving gateway scheme and (b) the total number of people who will take advantage of a saving gateway scheme with (i) no previous savings and (ii) a level of savings consistent with the lowest decile of average per head saving levels;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the calculation of the likely cost effectiveness of the child trust fund and saving gateway proposals;
	(3)  what his target is for (a) the number of families which take advantage of a child trust fund and (b) the total number of families which take advantage of a child trust fund with (i) no previous savings and (ii) a level of savings consistent with the lowest decile of average per family saving levels, in the first year that child trust funds are available;
	(4)  what his target is for the average percentage of the maximum available savings limit which he expects to be used up by people taking advantage of a saving gateway scheme in the first year of the scheme's availability;
	(5)  if he will make a statement on the intended interaction of the saving gateway, stakeholder pension and the pension credit;
	(6)  in the first three years of each scheme's operation, how many new savers he expects to be created by (a) the child trust fund and (b) the saving gateway;
	(7)  what assessment he has made of the effect which the saving gateway will have on individuals intending to save into a stakeholder pension scheme;
	(8)  if he plans to allow equity investments to be held in the saving gateway and child trust fund schemes;
	(9)  if he has calculated the likely deadweight costs to the Exchequer in the first year of operation associated with the (a) savings gateway and (b) child trust fund.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 23 October 2001, Official Report, columns 207–08W.

Special Advisers

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there are members of the Council of Economic Advisers on contracts that are (a) permanent, (b) temporary and (c) secondments.

Ruth Kelly: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Prime Minister on 20 July 2001, Official Report, column 467W.
	The Council of Economic Advisers are temporary civil servants appointed under Article 3 of the Civil Service Order in Council 1995 (as amended).

Inheritance Tax

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the yield of inheritance tax in each of the last four years.

Dawn Primarolo: Figures on inheritance tax yield are contained in table 1.2 of Inland Revenue Statistics 2000, which is available, updated to 2001 on the Inland Revenue website: www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/menus/stats.htm.

Deceased Persons (Estates)

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many cases, in each of the last four years, the proceeds of the estates of deceased persons reverted to the Inland Revenue.

Dawn Primarolo: Where a deceased person dies intestate and without entitled blood relatives the estate falls to be dealt with by the Treasury Solicitor on behalf of the Crown. In each of the last four years an average of 1,700 estates have been referred to the Treasury Solicitor, but not all of these revert to the Crown as in about a third of cases a will or relatives are traced.

Tax Credits

John Mann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in Bassetlaw have received working families tax credit and child credit to date.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of families in each constituency receiving working families tax credit (WFTC) are shown in "The WFTC Quarterly Enquiries", copies of which are in the Library.
	It is estimated that about 5 million families will benefit from the children's tax credit. Figures for each constituency are not available, but it is estimated that about 400,000 of these families are in the east midlands.

Service Delivery Agreements

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to revise the targets contained in the service delivery agreements published in autumn 2000.

Andrew Smith: The Government will be reviewing Departments' service delivery agreements, as part of the 2002 spending review. Departments will publish new ones after the review.

Civil Marriages

Margaret Moran: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to change the law relating to civil registration of marriages to permit reference to parents of the bride or groom to include mothers.

Ruth Kelly: In 1998, the then Economic Secretary to the Treasury commissioned the Registrar General to carry out a fundamental review of the Civil Registration service in England and Wales. This was in recognition of the fact that much of the Civil Registration system is outdated and does not meet the needs of today's society.
	In September 1999, the Registrar General published a consultation paper, "Registration: Modernising a Vital Service". The consultation period ended on 6 December 1999. The responses have been used to set out options for the future development of the registration service, so that it can adapt to the changing needs and attitudes of a modern society.
	Many of the responses to the consultation document were in support of equality of treatment for men and women in the records of births, deaths and marriages. Proposals on how this could be achieved are now being formulated and the intention is to publish a policy paper in due course.

Secondees

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list secondees in his Department from the private sector to (a) the Inland Revenue, (b) the Office of Government Commerce and (c) Customs and Excise.

Ruth Kelly: Details of the seconding private sector companies and the secondees' Departmental responsibilities are shown in the table:
	
		
			 Number of staff  Dates  Organisation  Work area 
		
		
			  (a) Inland Revenue 
			 1 13 March 2001 to 19 March 2003 British Telecom Diversity & equality project 
			 1 1 August 2001 to 31 July 2002 Accenture Better quality services review project 
			 1 24 September 2001 to 31 March 2002 KMPG Policy adviser 
			 1 1 June 2001 to 30 November 2001 Mercers Defined benefit simplification project 
			 1 1 June 2001 to 31 November 2001 Slaughter & May Defined benefit simplification project 
			 1 18 October 2001 to 18 October 2002 Barclays Bank Joint voluntary arrangements service corporate insolvency support adviser 
			 1 1 June 2001 to 30 November 2001 Watson Wyatts Defined benefit simplification project 
			 1 5 March 2001 to 28 February 2003 Boots plc People programme: Diversity & equality project 
			 (b) Office of Government Commerce 
			 1 1 April 2000—under consideration Quality Business Management Ltd. Director of management policy practice and legal directorate measurement division 
			 1 8 August 2000 to 8 August 2002 BAA Construction director property and construction directorate 
			 1 9 July 2001 to 8 January 2002 Computer Science Corporation IT Directorate consultancy division 
			 1 9 July 2001 to 8 July 2002 Zurich Management Services Private finance adviser, policy practice and legal directorate 
			 
			  (c) Customs & Excise 
			 1 11 June 2001 to 10 June 2002 British Telecommunications plc Marketing a public sector benchmarking system

Training Tax Credit

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce a tax credit for training.

Dawn Primarolo: As set out in Budget 2001, the Government are willing to consider what else they can contribute to extending opportunity for all in work, particularly to obtain a qualification up to level 2. But Government action alone cannot bring about the change necessary to impact on the problem of low skills. It will be important that everyone—employers, individuals and Government—take seriously their responsibility to deliver a high skill, high productivity economy.

Payroll Services

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the progress of the Carter report into payroll services;
	(2)  what plans he has to reduce the costs to business associated with (a) current and (b) future payroll obligations.

Dawn Primarolo: Patrick Carter's review of payroll services has been completed and is currently under consideration.

Offshore Rigs

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he intends to take following the ruling in the case of Joseph Lavery v. Ian MacLeod (HMIT) relating to the foreign earnings deduction status of offshore jack-up rigs; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: There has been a separate Court of Appeal hearing since the Special Commissioners case of Lavery v. MacLeod. The Court of Appeal held that a jack-up rig should be treated as a ship for the purposes of the foreign earnings deduction. The Inland Revenue is currently considering the actions that it needs to take as a consequence of the decisions in these cases.

Barnett Formula

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which areas of new comparable expenditure have been applied to Scotland under the Barnett formula and when, since 1979; and what has been the annual impact of each of these spending lines on the Scottish budget allocation.

Andrew Smith: Information on extensions to the Scottish block was published in the Treasury Committee report (HC 341 of 1997–98) on the Barnett formula in December 1997. Since then, information on the Barnett comparability factors and the assigned budget has been published in the Statement of Funding Policy, updated in July 2000. The Scottish block is determined as a block and is not hypothecated to particular spending lines.

Bio-fuel Incentives

David Rendel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce fiscal incentives to encourage the use of bio-fuel to meet the EU target for 2005.

Paul Boateng: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) and my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Mrs. Clark) on 22 October 2001, Official Report, columns 61–62W.

Graduate Incomes

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what was the average post-tax income of full-time employed (a) graduates and (b) non graduates aged (i) 18, (ii) 22, (iii) 30, (iv) 40, (v) 50 and (vi) 60 years in (a) 1960, (b) 1970, (c) 1980, (d) 1990 and (e) 2000, based on 2000 purchasing power;
	(2)  what was the average earnings of full-time employed (a) graduates and (b) non graduates aged (i) 18, (ii) 22, (iii) 30, (iv) 40, (v) 50 and (vi) 60 years in (a) 1960, (b) 1970, (c) 1980, (d) 1990 and (e) 2000, based on 2000 purchasing power.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Andrew Turner, dated 31 October 2001
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent questions about the average earnings and average post-tax income of graduates and non-graduates (12277, 12278).
	The Labour Force Survey (LFS) provides estimates of average gross weekly earnings for graduates and non-graduates. However, it only collects information about qualifications from respondents of working age (men aged 16–64 and women aged 16–59). Therefore, it does not provide estimates for female graduates and non-graduates aged 60 years or over.
	The LFS does not provide earnings estimates for 1990 or previous years as questions on earnings were first introduced in winter (December to February) 1992. Estimates for spring (March to May) 2000 are given in the table overleaf.
	The LFS does not collect information about post-tax income.
	
		Average gross weekly earnings of full-time(10) employees by age and whether a graduate or non-graduate; United Kingdom; spring (March to May) 2000; not seasonally adjusted
		
			£  
			  All full-time employees of working age(11),(12) Graduates Non- graduates 
		
		
			 All aged 18 years 155 (14)— 155 
			 All aged 22 years 250 272 244 
			 All aged 30 years 382 468 351 
			 All aged 40 years 448 719 391 
			 All aged 50 years 436 715 382 
			 Men aged 60 years(13) 431 (14)— 382 
		
	
	(10) The definition of full-time/part-time is based on respondents' self-assessment
	(11) Men aged 16–64 and women aged 16–59
	(12) Includes people who did not state their qualifications
	(13) Estimates for women aged 60 years are not available as the questions about qualifications only apply to people of working age
	(14) Sample size too small for reliable estimate

HEALTH

Regulation

Barbara Follett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the priorities of the Council for the Regulation of Healthcare Professionals relating to the harmonisation of regulatory systems across the professions.

John Hutton: Following publication of the Kennedy report that the "regulatory bodies be brought under the overall leadership of one overarching body", a public consultation was held on the establishment of a new Council for the Regulation of Healthcare Professionals which ended on 30 September. Legislation on establishing the new Council will be published shortly. We intend that the Council will be independent of the Government and it will be for the Council itself and not Ministers to take decisions on its priorities.

Haemophilia

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to combact the shortage of recombinant clotting factors that are provided to haemophiliac patients.

Jacqui Smith: The Department is working with the professionals, organisations and industry to help ensure that the needs of haemophilia patients are met, and that those for whom recombinant coagulation factors are required are able to get them.

Nursing and Residential Care

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nursing and residential care (a) homes and (b) beds have closed in South Tyneside in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: The available information is in the table. No information is available on the number of beds affected through homes closing or opening.
	
		Number of care home establishments closures and new home registrations in Gateshead and South Tyneside
		
			  Year ending 31 March Residential(15) Nursing(16) 
		
		
			 Establishment closures   
			 1999 3 1 
			 2000 7 5 
			 New registrations   
			 1999 5 0 
			 2000 7 3 
		
	
	(15) South Tyneside and Gateshead local authority areas
	(16) Gateshead and South Tyneside health authority
	Source:
	Registration and Inspection Survey

Nuchal Translucency Scans

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the availability of nuchal translucency scans.

Jacqui Smith: The advice of the United Kingdom National Screening Committee on Down's Syndrome screening is that all women should be offered second trimester serum screening to consist of at least a double test and a move towards triple or quadruple tests when possible. Other combinations of serum analytes and screening in the first trimester, including ultrasound scans, will be kept under review. Nuchal translucency scans are currently estimated to be available in about 8 per cent. of maternity units.

Communicable Disease Control

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if consultants in communicable disease control will work for (a) primary care trusts and (b) strategic health authorities.

Jacqui Smith: We are currently considering in the light of "Shifting the Balance of Power" what arrangements for the employment of consultants in communicable disease control will be suitable in the future. Such arrangements will be aimed at ensuring a comprehensive health protection function at local level.

Social Work Recruitment (Wales)

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Executive of the National Assembly for Wales regarding social worker recruitment and retention; and if he will make a statement on the results of these discussions.

Jacqui Smith: Officials of the Department have had extensive discussions with officials of the Executive of the National Assembly for Wales about social worker recruitment and retention. Ministers have been kept informed of these discussions. The result is an agreement that any Welsh people who contact the recruitment helpline recently launched in England, or request information via e-mail, will be given the information they require and will be directed to the Care Council for Wales for further information. The Department will continue to work closely with the National Assembly for Wales, and will share information and learning on the recruitment and retention of social workers.

Bed Blocking

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 16 October 2001, Official Report, column 1122W, on bed blocking, how many NHS hospital beds were subject to bed blocking by patients of all ages, broken down by each hospital trust in England and Wales, shown in actual terms and as a percentage of beds in use.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 19 October 2001
	The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Nursing Homes

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what powers health authorities have to ensure that payments to nursing home owners in respect of assessed nursing care needs are passed on in full to the relevant clients; and what monitoring of such payments he requires to be carried out.

Jacqui Smith: Guidance issued to the national health service makes clear that, from 1 October, those funding the full cost of their care in a nursing home from their own resources should not be charged for the cost of their care by a registered nurse as determined by an NHS nurse.
	Nursing homes will be receiving payments in respect of their clients' individual nursing needs from that date. This should be passed on to the individual through lower fees. The individual cannot be charged for services that the NHS is paying for and this will be reflected in the contracts between NHS bodies and nursing homes and between individuals and the home. NHS bodies will ensure that the contracts that they have with individual nursing homes are complied with and that any complaints relating to NHS funded nursing care are investigated.

NHS Staff (Pay)

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the average rise in the pay of NHS staff for each year since 1996–97; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 31 October 2001
	The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Year Percentage 
		
		
			 1997–98 3.61 
			 1998–99 4.02 
			 1999–2000 4.0 
			 2000–01 3.34 
			 2001–02 3.75 
		
	
	Notes:
	This is an average of the general increases to national pay scales for all of the staff groups in NHS trusts and health authorities, weighted by the total salary bill of each group. It omits the value of increments and other changes in pay
	Sources:
	Pay Advance letters, Department of Health's National Health Service August 2000 staff earnings survey

Waiting Lists

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the Department of Health in Northern Ireland about the initiative to reduce waiting lists through the funding of operations for UK citizens in other European countries.

John Hutton: holding answer 1 November 2001
	Officials in the Department have had discussions with colleagues in Northern Ireland about the implications of recent European Court of Justice rulings on cross-border health treatment for treating United Kingdom patients abroad. However, the decision to commission treatment for patients from Northern Ireland elsewhere in the European Economic Area is a matter for the Northern Ireland Assembly.

E112 Regulations

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has made to review the E112 regulations to ensure that they operate transparently and objectively.

John Hutton: holding answer 1 November 2001
	The Department is currently reviewing the E112 arrangements to ensure they comply with the judgments of the European Court of Justice in cases C 368/98 and C157/99.

Treatment Abroad

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans he has made to monitor the quality of care for United Kingdom patients going abroad to receive NHS treatment;
	(2)  how long it will take to put in place systems to guarantee patients high standards of care for treatments taking place abroad.

John Hutton: holding answer 1 November 2001
	Monitoring quality of care is primarily a matter for primary care trusts (PCTs), although we recognise that commissioning care overseas raises particular issues. To aid them in this task the Department will publish guidance for PCTs on commissioning treatment for National Health Service patients overseas based on the experience of the three test-bed sites which are currently working up plans to send patients to mainland Europe. The Department will also develop through an open tendering process a list of approved providers/intemediaries whom PCTs may approach when considering sending patients overseas. Finally, officials are considering what role the Commission for Health Improvement might play in monitoring standards of foreign providers.
	Primary care trusts will need to satisfy themselves through paper evidence, through clinicians visiting the relevant providers and through the contractual process that their patients will receive good clinical care. Although this process should be rigorous, it need not take many weeks. Our aim is that, if possible, the first patients travel to receive treatment in mainland Europe before the end of the year.

Treatment Abroad

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what definition he uses for an unreasonable period of delay for treatment within the NHS, as phrased in the European Court of Justice ruling on treatment of patients abroad.

John Hutton: holding answer 1 November 2001
	The European Court of Justice did not define what was meant by "undue delay", by implication leaving that a matter for determination by each member state. In England, if an application for treatment elsewhere in the European Union under the E112 scheme was made on grounds of delay, the Department would take account of the national targets for waiting times as published in the NHS Plan and of the individual patient's clinical need.

Smallpox

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans have been made to vaccinate the United Kingdom population against smallpox; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 1 November 2001
	There are no plans to vaccinate the United Kingdom population against smallpox. There is no specific threat to the UK population from this disease, which has been eradicated worldwide.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Individual Learning Accounts

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 30 October 2001, Official Report, column 619W, on individual learning accounts, when she first ordered (a) an audit and (b) an inspection into a complaint that learning providers were misusing the operation of the individual learning account scheme.

John Healey: The first audit was conducted in December 2000; and the first inspection in July 2001.

Specialist Schools

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of specialist schools selected pupils by aptitude in each of the last five years.

Stephen Timms: This information is not available for each of the last five years. In 1999–2000, when 403 specialist schools were operational, about 7 per cent. of the non-selective schools selected some of their pupils on the basis of aptitude in the specialisms. This information will be available annually in future, with information in relation to 2000–01 available in February 2002.

Student Support

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what further response to the sixth report from the Select Committee on Education and Employment she plans to publish on the Government's commitment to a review of student support arrangements.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 1 November 2001
	The Government have responded to the Education and Employment Select Committee's sixth report on student retention and has since announced a review of student funding. Any reforms emerging for the review will build on the new arrangements for student support introduced by the Government in 1998. It will be conducted in the context of our goal to get 50 per cent. of people under 30 into Higher Education by 2010, our ambition to expand access to HE from under-represented groups, and our continuing concern to deliver excellence in the HE system. We are, therefore, reviewing the balance between state funding and the contributions made by students and their families. A wide range of options is being considered and no decision is likely to be announced on the proposals until next year.

Student Support

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will publish the (a) terms of reference, (b) names of participating groups or individuals and (c) the time scale of the proposed review of student support arrangements; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The Government are reviewing our student funding policy. Any reforms emerging from the review will build on the new arrangements for student support introduced by the Government in 1998. It will be conducted in the context of our goal to get 50 per cent. of people under 30 into Higher Education by 2010, our ambition to expand access to HE from under-represented groups, and our continuing concern to deliver excellence in the HE system. We are, therefore, reviewing the balance between state funding and the contributions made by students and their families. A wide range of options is being considered and no decision is likely to be announced on the proposals until next year. We have said that we plan to consult on any proposals for change that emerge from the review.

AS-levels

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many AS-level exam scripts were not formally marked by the examining boards this year; what percentage this is of the total number of AS-level scripts; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 31 October 2001
	It is not possible to give a percentage of the total number of AS-level scripts that were not formally marked in summer 2001, as the number of scripts per subject is variable.
	As at 16 August, when provisional results were announced by the Joint Council for General Qualifications, a total of 6,461 special awards were made for AS-level subjects as a result of exam scripts not having been formally marked by the examining boards in summer 2001. This is 0.84 per cent. of 768,630 requests for "cash-in" of AS subject qualifications in England this summer.

Civil Defence Guidance

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what new civil defence guidance has been issued to schools since 11 September.

Ivan Lewis: The further guidance referred to in my previous answer to the hon. Member on 17 October 2001, Official Report, column 1233W, was notified to local education authorities on 19 October for them to use in advising schools.

Language Colleges

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what are the (a) name, (b) local education authority, (c) character, (d) date of designation, (e) agreed targets for each year within the period of designation and (f) unmet targets to date, of each designated language college in (i) south-east England, (ii) south-west England and (iii) London.

Stephen Timms: Information on the name, local education authority, character and date of designation of specialist language colleges currently operating in south-east England, south-west England and London is set out in the table.
	We do not publish targets for individual language colleges. Targets are agreed and reviewed annually with individual schools, and are subject to modification in the light of changing circumstances. However, all language college targets support the delivery of the main aims of the language college programme. These are: to raise standards of teaching and learning in Modern Foreign Languages (MFLs) and foster an international ethos and cultural awareness throughout a school;
	to ensure young people leave school with the knowledge and skills they and employers need by giving pupils an early understanding of the world of work, through the active participation of business community sponsors in school life, and thereby enhance pupils' understanding of applications of modern foreign languages;
	to encourage the dissemination of good practice and the sharing of resources through closer contacts between language colleges, other schools and the wider community.
	Individual targets and performance against those targets for each year of operation in the 49 language colleges included in the table could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			 School name LEA Character Operational as from September Region 
		
		
			 1. Dartford Grammar School Kent Foundation 1995 South-east 
			 2. Hendon School Barnet, LB of Foundation 1995 London 
			 3. Bohunt School Hampshire Foundation 1996 South-east 
			 4. Bullers Wood School Bromley, LB of Foundation 1996 London 
			 5. Convent of Jesus and Mary High Brent, LB of Voluntary-Aided 1996 London 
			 6. Katharine Lady Berkeleys Gloucestershire Foundation 1996 South-west 
			 7. Millais School West Sussex Community 1996 South-east 
			 8. Royal Grammar School (The) Buckinghamshire Foundation 1996 South-east 
			 9. Sir Bernard Lovell School South Gloucestershire Community 1996 South-west 
			 10. Tavistock College Devon Community 1996 South-west 
			 11. Tomlinscote School Surrey Community 1996 South-east 
			 12. Torquay Boys' Grammar Torbay Foundation 1996 South-west 
			 13. Willink School (The) West Berkshire Community 1996 South-east 
			 14. Cranford Community High School Hounslow, LB of Community 1997 London 
			 15. Didcot Girls' High School Oxfordshire Community 1997 South-east 
			 16. Elliott School Wandsworth Foundation 1997 London 
			 17. Haydon School Hillingdon Foundation 1997 London 
			 18. Imberhorne School West Sussex Community 1997 South-east 
			 19. Penrice Community School Cornwall Community 1997 South-east 
			 20. St. John Baptist Catholic Comprehensive School Surrey Voluntary-Aided 1997 South-east 
			 21. William Ellis School Camden, LB of Voluntary-Aided 1997 London 
			 22. Ashcombe School Surrey Community 1998 South-east 
			 23. Lord Grey School Milton Keynes Foundation 1998 South-east 
			 24. Holt School (The) Wokingham Community 1999 South-east 
			 25. Our Lady's Convent High School Hackney, LB of Voluntary-Aided 1999 London 
			 26. Saint George's C of E School Kent Voluntary-Aided 1999 South-east 
			 27. Sir John Colfox School Dorset Community 1999 South-west 
			 28. Weald of Kent Grammar School Kent Community 1999 South-east 
			 29. Bournemouth School Bournemouth Foundation 2000 South-west 
			 30. Chatham Grammar School for Boys Medway Community 2000 South-east 
			 31. Clevedon Community School North Somerset Community 2000 South-west 
			 32. Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School Islington, LB of Community 2000 London 
			 33. Hele's School Plymouth, City of Community 2000 South-west 
			 34. Highcliffe School Dorset Foundation 2000 South-west 
			 35. John Bentley School (The) Wiltshire Foundation 2000 South-west 
			 36. Kingsmead Community School Somerset Community 2000 South-west 
			 37. Mountbatten School (The) Hampshire Community 2000 South-east 
			 38. Romsey School (The) Hampshire Community 2000 South-east 
			 39. Ryde High School Isle of Wight Community 2000 South-east 
			 40. Sir John Cass's Foundation Redcoat School (The) Tower Hamlets Voluntary-Aided 2000 London 
			 41. Sir Thomas Rich's School Gloucestershire Community 2000 South-west 
			 42. Woodbridge High School Redbridge Community 2000 London 
			 43. Aylesbury High School Buckinghamshire Community 2001 South-east 
			 44. Connaught School for Girls Waltham Forest, LB of Community 2001 London 
			 45. Greenford High School Ealing, LB of Foundation 2001 London 
			 46. Hayle Community School Cornwall Community 2001 South-west 
			 47. Henry Box School (The) Oxfordshire Community 2001 South-east 
			 48. Pate's Grammar School Gloucestershire Voluntary-Aided 2001 South-west 
			 49. Piggott School (The) Wokingham Voluntary-Aided 2001 South-east

Social Exclusion (Young People)

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made on implementing the recommendations of the social exclusion report on young people.

John Denham: The recommendations of the Social Exclusion Unit's Policy Action Team (12) report on Young People centred around four themes; improving the way Government develop and implement policy and services for children and young people; a new focus on preventive services; improving individual services for children and young people; and designing policies around their needs, especially through involving children and young people in thinking about policies and services. Substantial progress has been made in all these areas.
	To improve the way the Government develop policy the Prime Minister has established a new cabinet committee on children and young people's services, created the interdepartmental ministerial post of Minister for Young People and established the interdepartmental Children and Young People's Unit to be responsible for this work.
	A new focus on preventive services and action to address the social exclusion of children and young people has been provided by the new Children's Fund. The Fund is worth £450 million over 2001–02 to 2003–04, of which £380 million is devoted to the development of preventive services by partnerships throughout England and £70 million is devoted to the Children's Fund Local Network making grants to voluntary organisations working on projects to tackle child poverty.
	Improving individual services for children and young people was a key theme of the Spending Review 2000, in particular through the introduction of the Connexions service for 13–19 year olds. The first Connexions Partnerships began to deliver services from April this year. £420 million is being invested in Connexions in 2002–03, rising to £455 million in 2003–04. To ensure that national health service provision is designed around children we have announced the establishment of a new NHS National Service Framework. Targeted programmes to support children and young people's individual education needs were set out in the White Paper, "Schools—achieving success" (Cmd 5230). This progress will be further promoted through the cross-cutting review on children at risk announced by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, in response to a written question from my hon. Friend the Member for Preseli, Pembrokeshire (Mrs. Lawrence) on 25 June 2001, Official Report, column 38W.
	In "Tomorrow's Future: Building a Strategy for Children and Young People", published on 22 March, the Government set out their commitment to developing an overarching strategy for Children and Young People to ensure that we designed policies around the needs and priorities of young people, including the encouragement of new approaches in Government to ensure effective involvement and participation of children. In the near future, I will be publishing a consultation document on the Government's new strategy for Children and Young People.

School Organisation Committees

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the impact her proposal to extend the power of the learning and skills councils to put forward reorganisation proposals for 16 to 19 education provision will have on the role of local school organisation committees.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 31 October 2001
	The proposal will enable learning and skills councils (LSCs) to take the lead in developing and implementing strategic plans for local 16–19 provision across the full range of 16–19 providers. School Organisation Committees (SOCs) will have the right to comment on LSC proposals which affect their area. The range and type of proposals that a School Organisation Committee may itself consider in relation to school organisation will be unaffected. Nor does the proposal affect the range of decisions that a SOC may make, except where a proposal it is considering clashes with one which the LSC has submitted to the Secretary of State, in which case consideration by the SOC would be delayed until a decision is made on the LSC proposal.

Cost of Living (Students)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent assessment she has made on the cost of living for students in the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The most recent assessment made by my Department was in the Student Income and Expenditure Survey 1998–99, published in December 2000, which was the fourth survey since the series began in 1988–89. This showed that average spending on essential items such as food and accommodation had not risen in real terms since 1995–96 but average spending on clothes and discretionary items such as entertainment had gone up sharply. Student income from all sources had risen since 1995–96 by 12 per cent. in real terms, with greater commercial borrowings, earnings from employment and withdrawal from savings. Since 1998–99 the value of the student loan has continued to be increased annually in line with inflation.

Higher Education

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her targets are for participation in (a) higher education and (b) first degree courses for each year to 2010.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 29 October 2001
	We have announced our plans up to 2003–04. We will fund 1,087,000 students (full-time equivalent) in 2001–02; 1,101,000 in 2003–04; and subject to any changes flowing from the current Spending Review, 1,115,000 in 2003–04. As part of the Spending Review we will be looking at our plans up to 2005–06 and beyond.

Sure Start (Northamptonshire)

Tony Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much Sure Start money has been allocated to the Northampton, South constituency.

Jacqui Smith: Northampton was invited to take part in the third wave of Sure Start, and local stakeholders were invited to choose the programme's catchment area. They decided to situate the programme in Spencer, Kings Heath and St. James, which are outside of the Northampton, South constituency. Northamptonshire has also been invited to develop a smaller scale Sure Start programme as part of the £22 million wave of programmes announced in July 2001, aimed at rural areas and small pockets of deprivation. Local stakeholders also decided to locate this programme outside of the Northampton, South constituency.
	The Government are committed to establishing 500 Sure Start programmes by March 2004. So far, 437 have been announced over five waves and a sixth wave will be announced next year. The next 63 programme areas are not yet decided, but the districts will be identified using similar criteria to those used previously, which is on the basis of level of need and deprivation.

Special Measures (Schools)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools were put under special measures in each of the past five years; how many were put under special measures for longer than two years; what additional resources are allocated to such schools; and what plans she has for the direct funding of them.

Stephen Timms: The number of schools judged by Ofsted to require "special measures" in each of the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			 Academic year Number 
		
		
			 1996–97 326 
			 1997–98 515 
			 1998–99 442 
			 1999–2000 396 
			 2000–01 320 
		
	
	The Government are committed to ensuring that the number of schools subject to special measures continues to decline year-on-year.
	Over the last five years, a total of 180 schools have been in special measures for more than two years, of which 135 subsequently improved and were taken out of special measures and 16 have now closed. The Government's policy is now that all schools in special measures should be turned round within two years or closed. The recent White Paper "Schools: Achieving Success" proposes further options to support more rapid improvement when schools fail.
	This year, local education authorities in England have been allocated £70,000 in school improvement grant for each secondary school in special measures and £25,000 for each equivalent primary school.
	The Government have no plans to introduce direct funding of schools in special measures.

Departmental Spending (Deprived Areas)

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much of the expenditure by her Department in each of the years (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99, (d) 1999–2000, (e) 2000–01, (f) 2001–02 and (g) 2002–03 (estimated) was allocated with reference to the Index of Multiple Deprivation; which expenditure programmes are allocated with respect to this index and other measures of relative geographic deprivation; and if she will make a statement.

Estelle Morris: holding answer 25 October 2001
	Department for Education and Skills expenditure is allocated according to a variety of methods. Expenditure on the following programmes, none of which existed prior to 1998–99, which is allocated with reference to the Indices of Multiple Deprivation and the 1998 Index of Local Deprivation, is shown in the table.
	The vast majority of programmes targeted at schools serving deprived areas make use of recent data regarding numbers of children in receipt of free school meals. This is because these data are up to date and are at school-level. Figures for these programmes, other programmes allocated using different measures, and any relevant programmes that finished before the current financial year, have not been included in the table, because this information could have been obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	
		£ million 
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Nursery Education Grant — 40 100 200 238 
			 Neighbourhood Support Fund — — 60 60 60 
			 Education Maintenance Allowances(17) — 11 78 159 192 
			 Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative(18) — — — 46 74 
			 Learning and Skills Council/Further Education—Widening Participation Initiative (19),(20) 22 52 66 94 n/a 
			 Sure Start(21) — 7 58 184 449 
		
	
	(17) The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) pilot areas were selected using a number of indicators, one of which was the Index of Local Deprivation (1998). EMA pilots began in 15 areas in September 1999 and were expanded to a further 41 areas in September 2000.
	(18) Funding allocated at the Spending Review 2000. Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative funding has been allocated using the 20 per cent. extent measure from the Index of Multiple Deprivation (2000). It identifies the number of wards within each LEA that fall within the 20 per cent. most disadvantaged in the country. Local education authorities received an allocation of funding according to the number of wards within their area that fall within the 20 per cent., weighted with the population of 0 to four-year-olds.
	(19) From 1998–99, Further Education institutions could claim additional funding for students resident in deprived areas. This funding was extended in 1999–2000 to include other types of students.
	(20) Widening Participation Initiative allocations for 2002–03 have not yet been finalised.
	(21) The Sure Start programme is a cross-departmental programme but is also within the Department for Education and Skills' Departmental Expenditure Limit.

Sixth Forms

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what changes have been made to the funding of individual sixth forms by the Learning and Skills Council, (a) excluding pure indexation and (b) in absolute terms.

Ivan Lewis: The Learning and Skills Council will begin funding local education authorities for their school sixth-form provision from April 2002. Schools have been given a guarantee that their funding will not fall in real terms provided their pupil numbers have not fallen.

Departmental Properties

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will estimate the total annual running costs for buildings used, owned or rented by her Department for each nation and region of the UK, and estimate the average cost per square metre for properties used by her Department as a whole, and by region and nation of the UK.

Ivan Lewis: The estimated total running costs and average cost per square metre for buildings used, owned and rented by the Department are listed in the table.
	
		£ 
		
			 Region Estimated total running costs Estimated cost per sq. metre 
		
		
			 London 20,623,537 513.00 
			 Yorks and Humber 6,926,182 233.00 
			 North West 2,963,460 140.00 
			 North East 1,354,964 192.00 
			  
			 Total 31,868,143 325.00

WALES

Education Policy

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of recent education policy changes in Wales relating to the publication of levels of attainment in schools.

Paul Murphy: None. This is a matter for the National Assembly for Wales.
	Jane Davidson, Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, announced in July that the National Assembly intended to remove the requirement for publication of Secondary School Performance Information in Wales.
	This decision does not mean that information on school results will not be available to parents or to the public. Schools will continue to publish their own results in the prospectuses and Governors' Annual Reports.
	The 2000–01 results for Wales and for each local education authority in Wales will be released on 12 November.

Subsidies

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the total value of (a) subsidies and (b) other payments made out of public funds was in each of the past five years to (i) farming and (ii) the steel industry in Wales.

Paul Murphy: The provision of state aid to the steel industry is governed by the Steel Aid Code of the European Coal and Steel Community Treaty. This Code only permits aid, in limited circumstances, for Research and Development, environmental protection and the permanent closure (not rescue) of a steel company.
	Over the past five years no aid has been applied for and none granted under the terms of the Steel Aid Code.
	Subsidies from the Common Agricultural Programme, funded by the European Union, total around £200 million per annum. There has been no significant change in the last five years.
	Information about other payments is not held centrally in the format requested.

Welsh Assembly

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Prime Minister on devolving further powers to the Welsh Assembly.

Paul Murphy: The progress of devolution in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland was discussed at the Cardiff meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee, which was chaired by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 30 October.
	While the Welsh devolution settlement is kept under review, the Government have no plans to change the broad mix of Assembly responsibilities.

St. David's Day

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to assist the declaration of St. David's Day as a public holiday in Wales.

Paul Murphy: As I told the House on 9 July 2001, Official Report, column 358W, the Assembly's request to declare a bank holiday on St. David's Day raises significant issues for business, industry and the public sector. I am continuing to discuss these matters with the First Minister.

Departmental Promotions

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spent on information literature, advertising and campaign material in the financial years (a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97, (c) 1997–98, (d) 1998–99, (e) 1999–2000 and (f) 2000–01; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: My Department runs no publicity campaigns and hence has spent nothing on advertising since its creation in July 1999. Its predecessor Department—the Welsh Office—spent £1,929,000 in 1995–96, £1,795,000 in 1996–97, £2,661,000 in 1997–98, and £2,685,000 in 1998–99. All the individual campaigns are evaluated separately taking into account effectiveness and value for money.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Judicial Staff

Keith Vaz: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many and what percentage of (a) High Court judges, (b) district judges, (c) magistrates, (d) recorders and (e) adjudicators are (i) black and (ii) Asian.

Rosie Winterton: The following tables give the recorded breakdown for judicial officers in post at each level of the judiciary requested on the dates indicated.
	
		Table 1: Judiciary as at 1 October 2001
		
			 1 October 2001 Total Black Asian 
		
		
			 High Court Judges 105 0 0 
			 Percentage of total 100 0.0 0.0 
			 Recorders 1,322 17 15 
			 Percentage of total 100 1.3 1.1 
			 District Judges (including Family Division) 407 0 6 
			 Percentage of total 100 0.0 1.5 
			 Deputy District Judges (including Family Division) 802 4 6 
			 Percentage of total 100 0.5 0.8 
			 District Judges (Magistrates' Court)(22) 95 0 2 
			 Percentage of total 100 0.0 2.1 
			 Deputy District Judges (Magistrates' Courts)(22) 164 3 4 
			 Percentage of total 100 1.8 2.4 
			 Immigration Adjudicators (Full time) 72 4 5 
			 Percentage of total 100 5.6 6.9 
			 Immigration Adjudicators (Part time) 398 13 19 
			 Percentage of total 100 3.3 4.8 
		
	
	(22) On 31 August 2000 Stipendiary Magistrates and Acting Stipendiary Magistrates were renamed District Judges (Magistrates' Courts) and Deputy District Judges (Magistrates' Courts) respectively.
	
		Tables 2 and 3: Lay Magistrates as at 1 April 2001
		
			 1 April 2001 Total Black Asian 
		
		
			 Lay Magistrates, England and Wales (excluding Duchy of Lancaster) 24,771 490 598 
			 Percentage of total 100 2.0 2.4 
		
	
	
		Table 3
		
			 1 April 2001 Total Black Asian 
		
		
			 Lay Magistrates (Duchy of Lancaster) 3,964 52 128 
			 Percentage of total 100 1.3 3.2

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

Hackney Council

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions his Department has had with Hackney borough council concerning the administrative failings of the council in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Byers: My Department has been in close contact with members and officials at the London borough of Hackney over the last 12 months and prior to that on occasions.
	The council has well chronicled financial and governance problems that have contributed to failures in the delivery of key services. Following an inspection of the whole authority, the Audit Commission advised me in July of this year that the council was not complying with its statutory Best Value responsibilities. It recommended the use of intervention powers under Part 1 of the Local Government Act 1999.
	We consulted the council about the form of the Directions, as required by the statute. Their response was constructive and they have accepted the urgent need to improve their performance.
	On 12 October, I gave Hackney five Directions under these provisions. The Directions require the council to produce a strategy for bringing its budget back into balance; and to improve services such as financial management, education, social services, benefit administration and waste management.
	The purpose of the Directions is to restore financial accountability and control within the authority, and to protect and improve front-line services. The Directions set a clear timetable for improvements to be made and we expect the council to achieve these with tailored financial and other support. I have placed copies of the Directions in the Library of the House.

Railtrack

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  if the proposed cap on the Government loan facility to the company limited by guarantee proposed as a successor to Railtrack will be sufficient to cover Railtrack's published investment programme;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the amount of the cap on expenditure on the loan facility to the company limited by guarantee proposed as a successor to Railtrack.

John Spellar: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) on 31 October 2001, Official Report, column 671W.

Railtrack

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish the minutes of the meeting between executives of Railtrack and his officials on 3 October.

John Spellar: No.

Railtrack

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when Ernst and Young LLP was given a letter of instruction from his Department about the prospective Railway Administration Order concerning Railtrack plc.

John Spellar: No such letter has been sent.

Railtrack

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will publish the supporting evidence in relation to Railtrack's railway administration order required by rule 2.6 of the Railway Administration Order Rules 2001.

John Spellar: I have placed a copy in the Library of the House.

Airport Car Parks

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what regulatory approval has been sought by BAA to impose a public transport levy on users of car parks at its airports;
	(2)  what regulations govern the car parking charges that BAA impose at their airports;
	(3)  what future regulatory approval is required by the BAA to (a) vary a public transport levy on users of car parks at their airports and (b) ensure the money raised is invested in the most cost-effective way;
	(4)  if the imposition of a public transport levy on people using car parks at BAA airports will be part of the regulatory review being undertaken by the CAA;
	(5)  what regulatory requirements exist to ensure that there is competition among car park operators at airports owned by BAA;
	(6)  what monitoring is conducted by (a) his Department and (b) the CAA to ensure that the revenue from the levy imposed on car park users at south-east airports benefits the users paying the charge.

John Spellar: Car parking charges at BAA airports are a matter for the BAA and do not require any specific regulatory approval. They are, however, subject to general competition law and are open to investigation by the Office of Fair Trading under the Competition Act 1998. In addition, as part of its periodic review of the BAA London airports, the Competition Commission could investigate whether car parking charges levied by the airports give rise to public interest concerns.

Rail Transport Meetings

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the (a) contracts and (b) meetings between Ernst and Young LLP and his Department in relation to rail transport in the last 12 months.

John Spellar: Ernst and Young were engaged on 24 August to advise on possible options for Railtrack. In the course of that work, there were numerous meetings with the Department.

Energy Efficiency Week

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action his Department took in recognition of Energy Efficiency Week.

Alan Whitehead: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment on 30 October 2001 Official Report, column 592W. Within DTLR we continue to take energy efficiency seriously through implementing our greening operations policy and monitoring and reporting progress against cross-government targets. We raise awareness of energy efficiency, and other greening operations issues, through regular advice and information for our staff. A recent example is the foyer displays of environmental performance at our headquarter buildings in London.

TransPennine Franchise

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if the new TransPennine franchise will include investment in new trains.

David Jamieson: The three short-listed counterparties have been invited to re-submit their proposals for the TransPennine Express franchise. The Strategic Rail Authority anticipates and will encourage investment in new rolling stock as part of these proposals.

Bifuel Vehicles

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to reclassify bifuel vehicles representing a manufacturer's standard option, according to their carbon dioxide emissions, for road tax purposes.

David Jamieson: holding answer 31 October 2001
	In the case of new private motor cars registered on or after 1 March this year, vehicles which, in the words of the relevant order are:
	"capable of being propelled by
	(i) petrol and road fuel gas, or
	(ii) electricity and either petrol or diesel", i.e. so called "bifuelled" cars, are now subject to Vehicle Excise Duty ("road tax") according to their carbon dioxide emissions. All new cars are now subject to VED according to their carbon dioxide emissions and bifuelled cars come into the lowest range of rates—that assigned to "Alternative Fuel Cars".

Vehicle Safety

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what progress has been made in reducing the use of vehicles with non-flexible fronts.

David Jamieson: The European Commission are proposing to make a negotiated agreement with car manufacturers, which will require new cars to have fronts which are less harmful to pedestrians. This proposal is due to be discussed by Ministers at the Internal Market, Consumer Affairs and Tourism Council on 26 November.

Jo Moore

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what records have been kept of conversations between Ministers and Ms Jo Moore since 11 September;
	(2)  what meetings and telephone conversations he has had with Ms Jo Moore since 10 September;
	(3)  if he will publish the departmental correspondence, including e-mails, leading to the announcements (a) on councillors' allowances and (b) on councillors' pensions on 12 September;
	(4)  if, before administering a personal reprimand to Ms Jo Moore regarding her e-mail of 11 September, he received other e-mails sent by her after 11 September.

Stephen Byers: Under paragraph 2 of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, it is not the practice to disclose details of internal communication.

Jo Moore

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions who authorised the interview with Sky News given by Ms Jo Moore on 16 October.

Stephen Byers: The interview was given with my agreement.

Special Advisers

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will set out the process that would be followed in his Department if (a) a member of staff other than a special adviser and (b) a special adviser applied to leave their job through ill health.

Stephen Byers: For all staff in DTLR including special advisers, the process for retirement on grounds of ill-health is set out in the DTLR Staff Handbook.

Special Advisers

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if a personal reprimand from the Secretary of State is a formal part of the disciplinary procedure applying to special advisers in his Department; and if such a reprimand is included on the personnel record of these special advisers.

Stephen Byers: My personal reprimand was in addition to the formal disciplinary procedure.

Special Advisers

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what changes he has made to the selection criteria for special advisers in his Department since 9 October.

Stephen Byers: None.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

The Gambia

Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the presidential election held in The Gambia on 18 October; and if he will make a statement on relations with The Gambia.

Ben Bradshaw: We consider the result of the presidential election of 18 October, in which the incumbent President Jammeh was re-elected with 52.9 per cent. of the vote, to have been a fair reflection of the views of the Gambian people on the day.
	The United Kingdom and The Gambia have a long standing relationship and there are close ties between us. While the unwarranted expulsion of the British Deputy High Commissioner in August has caused some tensions, the United Kingdom will continue to work closely with The Gambia to promote democracy, good governance and the rule of law.

UK/China Human Rights Dialogue

George Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will make a statement regarding the objectives and criteria for evaluation of the UK/China human rights dialogue.

Denis MacShane: The Government have identified a set of working objectives towards which we expect the dialogue process to work. They cover issues relating to the rule of law; engagement with UN mechanisms, political and religious rights; economic and social rights and the situation in Tibet.
	These objectives, and the achievements of the dialogue process over the past year, are set out in the FCO annual human rights report.

UK/China Human Rights Dialogue

George Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what issues the Government intends to raise with China regarding Tibet in the UK/China dialogue on 19 November.

Denis MacShane: The 7th round of the UK/China human rights dialogue will take place in London from 19–21 November.
	The agenda for the dialogue has not yet been finalised. But we will express our concern over human rights conditions in Tibet and will continue to urge the chinese to open a dialogue with the Dalai Lama.
	I raised our concerns about human rights and the rule of law in China in discussions with the Chinese Government in Beijing in September and in London last month.

Uranium

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance has been offered to the Republic of Georgia to further the inquiries into the enriched uranium seized by anti-terrorist police in Batumi, Georgia on 18 July; and if he will make a statement on the destination of the uranium.

Ben Bradshaw: The Republic of Georgia has not requested any assistance from either the UK directly, or the International Atomic Energy Authority with respect to the seizure of 1.7 kg of low enriched uranium in Batumi in July. It is not usual for the UK to become involved in these matters unless there is such a request. There is no information available on the intended destination of the low enriched uranium.

Immigration (Ministerial Intervention)

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions Ministers have intervened in immigration cases to overturn a decision by an ECO; and at which posts.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer to the answer my hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Ruffley) on 22 March 2001, Official Report, columns 316–17W. Since then seven decisions to refuse entry clearance to the United Kingdom have been overturned following the exercise of ministerial discretion. The posts concerned were: Bombay (2), New Delhi (2), Islamabad (2) and Casablanca (1).

Zimbabwe

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens were living in Zimbabwe on 1 September.

Ben Bradshaw: On 1 September 2001 there were 25,223 British nationals registered with the British High Commission in Harare.

Zimbabwe

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make provision for Zimbabwean farmers who have had their land removed from them, and have been forced to leave their home country, to receive compensation for their loss.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government of Zimbabwe are responsible for land seizures in that country. They remain responsible for meeting their legal obligations in implementing land reform. In Abuja, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary reaffirmed our willingness to make a significant contribution to a fair, effective and sustainable land reform programme on the basis of the UNDP proposals of December 2000. He made it clear that our support for land reform depended on action by the Government of Zimbabwe to implement the commitments it made in Abuja. We have so far seen little evidence of such implementation. We understand that UNDP have an assessment mission in Zimbabwe at the moment looking at the prospects for a credible land reform programme. We welcome this. But in the circumstances, it is too soon to speculate on a possible UK financial contribution and the possible arrangements for payment.

Yugoslavia

Malcolm Savidge: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent changes have been made to export controls in place against the Former Republic of Yugoslavia.

Denis MacShane: The EU arms embargo was lifted at the General Affairs Council on 8 October 2001 due to the improved security situation and on-going process of internal reforms undertaken by the FRY authorities. In light of this, the Government have decided to lift the controls imposed in 1996 on exports to the FRY of:
	All wheel drive vehicles capable of off-road use that have a ground clearance of greater than 175 millimetres;
	Heavy duty recovery vehicles capable of towing a suspended load of more than six tonnes or winching a load of more than 10 tonnes;
	Drop-sided trucks that have a load-carrying capacity of more than five tonnes.
	An amendment to the Export Control (Goods) Order will be made in due course.
	The Government have also decided to lift the policy, as announced to Parliament on 14 March 2000, of presumption of refusal for the export of dual use goods to the FRY which could benefit the armed forces, internal security forces or similar entities of the authorities in Belgrade. Again, with the change to a democratic government in the FRY and on-going improvements in the security structures there, we have no reason to continue doing so. This will bring our export control policy on the FRY in line with that on most other countries. All future applications for dual use goods to the FRY will be judged on a case-by-case basis, on their merits, against the consolidated EU and national export licensing criteria.

Afghanistan

Richard Page: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what access to consular services is available to British citizens serving with the Taliban.

Ben Bradshaw: The British Government have no consular representation in Afghanistan, and advise strongly against all travel to Afghanistan.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Flooding

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the recent flooding in mid and north Essex, indicating what help the Government propose to make available to help prevent future flooding in the area.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 1 November 2001
	The Government sympathises with all those who were affected by the recent flooding in Essex. This followed exceptional rainfall with up to 109 mm of rain falling in a 12 hour period on 21 October. While we can and do take action to reduce the risk of flooding it is not possible to remove that risk altogether when faced with extreme events of this type.
	The Government have substantially increased funding for flood and coastal defence in successive spending reviews and total annual expenditure in England now exceeds £400 million. DEFRA funding alone is set to increase from £66 million last year to £114 million in 2003–04.
	Flood defences are designed, built and operated by the Environment Agency and other operating authorities. The Agency will be undertaking a study of the flooding from the River Blackwater in the Bocking area of Braintree. Within Essex the Agency is currently undertaking a flood defence scheme at Chadwell Cross in Tilbury and works on two sections of the River Crouch near Battlebridge and at Hullbridge. Works are also planned next year on the River Roach.

Flooding

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on (a) flood defence in England and Wales and (b) how managed retreat will affect Somerset.

Elliot Morley: DEFRA has policy responsibility for flood and coastal defences in England, and the National Assembly for Wales has similar responsibilities for Wales. I plan to reduce the risk of flooding by investing in effective flood warning arrangements and in flood defences in the highest risk areas. Funding for the Department's programme is increasing from £66 million in 2000–01 to £114 million in 2003–04.
	This Department provides funding to the Environment Agency (EA), local authorities and Internal Drainage Boards for capital flood and coastal defence works that meet certain criteria. DEFRA encourages authorities to take a strategic approach to flood and coastal defences and to draw up shoreline management plans. These consider natural processes; planning pressures; current and future land use; flood and coastal defence needs; and environmental needs. The Shoreline Management Plan covering Bridgwater Bay to Bideford Bay was produced for a consortium of the EA and local authorities, each of whom have coastal defence responsibilities. It considered a range of options and identified one for each management unit along the coast from Brean Down, Somerset to Hartland Point in Devon. I understand that managed retreat was the preferred strategic option for the shingle ridge at Porlock. For the lengths between Stolford and Fanning Island, and along the west bank of the River Parrett to Combwich, an observe and monitor strategy was proposed, while consideration is given to managed retreat on undeveloped frontages to promote saltmarsh growth for nature conservation and coastal defence purposes.

Flooding

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the total expenditure in England and Wales on flood defence has been for each financial year since 1990; and what the projected expenditure on flood defence is for each of the next five years.

Elliot Morley: Flood defence is a fully devolved function with this Department having policy responsibility for England only. The following table therefore shows expenditure by the Environment Agency in England and by English local authorities. Figures for 1990–91 and 1991–02 are not available separately for English local authorities.
	Flood defence is also provided by internal drainage boards but comprehensive information on their expenditure over this period is not available. However, in 1999–2000 expenditure by boards in England was £40.7 million and this is likely to have grown by modest annual amounts over the period.
	
		£ million 
		
			 Year Environment Agency (National Rivers Authority until 1995–96) Local authorities Total 
		
		
			 1990–91 194.3 n/a n/a 
			 1991–92 217.3 n/a n/a 
			 1992–93 218.3 12.3 230.6 
			 1993–94 221.4 12.1 233.5 
			 1994–95 232.7 11.4 244.1 
			 1995–96 245.7 13.1 258.8 
			 1996–97 254.2 12.2 266.4 
			 1997–98 255.2 13.0 268.2 
			 1998–99 247.2 15.0 262.2 
			 1999–2000 260.3 15.4 275.7 
			 2000–01 270.4 (23)20.1 (23)290.5 
		
	
	(23) Provisional
	Expenditure beyond this period depends on a number of factors including the balance between expenditure on flood defence and coast protection and the availability of funding from sources other than Government. However, the total Government provision for flood defence and coast protection in England is set to increase by some £45 million in 2001–02, a further £16 million in 2002–03 and a further £20 million in 2003–04. Flood defence funding beyond that period will be determined by the Spending Review due to be conducted in 2002.

Flooding

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact the catchment abstraction management strategy proposed by the Environment Agency will have on seasonal flooding.

Elliot Morley: Catchment abstraction management strategies are the vehicle for ensuring long-term sustainable water abstraction management. As such they will have no direct impact on seasonal flooding.

Flooding

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the implications for council tax payers in north Yorkshire of proposed Government expenditure in 2000–03 on flood defences.

Elliot Morley: No such assessment is possible at this stage. The Environment Agency is currently considering the proposed flood defence budget for the Yorkshire region for 2002–03 and this will inform consideration of the levy which the Yorkshire Regional Flood Defence Committee will set in January 2002. It will then be for the local authorities to consider how the levy should be funded taking account of the provision made available to them through revenue support grant.
	The Yorkshire Regional Flood Defence Committee will also take account of my recent announcement that we will increase DEFRA grant to support capital works undertaken in their area in 2002–03. The figures stands to rise from some £8 million this year to nearly £13 million for 2002–03 and reflects in large measure the need for new capital works in areas affected by the autumn 2000 floods as well as the Humber Estuary.
	It is also the case that Yorkshire has been a major beneficiary of DEFRA's special funding of emergency costs and repairs from last year's severe flooding and of design and feasibility costs for accelerated river defences and associated strategies, receiving some £8.5 million.

Flooding

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the economic and flood defence benefits of sustainable urban drainage.

Sally Keeble: I have been asked to reply.
	My Department contributed to the research carried out for the Construction Industry Research and Information Association that produced design manuals for England and Wales and for Scotland and Northern Ireland (both published in 2000) and a best practice manual on sustainable urban drainage systems (published in 2001). These were based on demonstration projects that clearly showed both the benefits in flood defence, water quality and local amenity.
	No formal assessment of the benefits has been made on a national scale since these depend on the local intensity of rainfall for which individual sustainable drainage systems are designed. Such systems can assist in reducing the impact of intense rainfall and they can be as economical as conventional drainage systems. The use of sustainable urban drainage systems is generally encouraged in the new Planning Policy Guidance Note 25 issued in July 2001 but decisions by developers to install them must be based on site-specific assessments of the loads they would need to deal with.

Foot and Mouth

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many DEFRA personnel (a) are working for all or most of the time in south Cumbria and (b) are based there.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 23 October 2001
	There are currently 64 DEFRA staff based at the south Cumbria forward station at Milnthorpe consisting of TVIs, lay blood samplers and administrative staff. In addition, there are 12 field staff assigned to a forward station in Appleby. Both the Milnthorpe and Appleby staff work exclusively in south Cumbria.
	Other veterinary surgeons and specialist staff are based at Carlisle. They carry out the risk assessments relating to animal movements within the Restricted Infected Area or within 3 km Protection Zones. They are also assigned to other tasks on a daily basis depending on where, in the county, there is a demand for specialist input.

Foot and Mouth

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will review the case for sending only locally based DEFRA personnel and vehicles to farms in south Cumbria; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 23 October 2001
	Staff involved in the collection of samples that are needed to facilitate movements of sheep in south Cumbria are based at a work allocation station in Milnthorpe. Other specialist work, such as the risk assessment of animal movements, within the Penrith Restricted Infected Area, is carried out by specialists based in Carlisle.

Foot and Mouth

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many contractors have waited in excess of three months for payments due to them for work carried out on foot and mouth eradication.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 22 October 2001
	Between 1 April and 30 September 2001, the Department made payments to 7,257 suppliers of foot and mouth related services, in respect of 91,418 invoices. During this time, 214 suppliers had to wait more than 90 days in respect of 916 invoices. 82 per cent. of all payments were made within 30 days of receipt of a valid invoice.

Foot and Mouth

Tim Collins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will grant greater autonomy to DEFRA officials dealing with foot and mouth outbreaks and livestock movements in south Cumbria in order to speed up decisions; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 18 October 2001
	National and European Community law requires that certain decisions relating to foot and mouth disease must be taken by the Chief Veterinary Officer and, in light of this accountability, it is not possible to delegate all the decision making entirely to the regions.
	However, when implementing national and EU policy, full account is taken, where possible, of local circumstances.

Foot and Mouth

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs since 7 June how many holdings in Cumbria have had animals slaughtered because of foot and mouth disease, broken down by (a) IPs, (c) DCs and (c) other.

Elliot Morley: Between 7 June and 31 October, animals were slaughtered on 546 premises in Cumbria as a result of the foot and mouth disease outbreak. This figure may be broken down as follows.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Infected Premises (IPs) 164 
			 Dangerous Contacts (DCs) 374 
			 Other (Slaughter on suspicion) 8 
			  
			 Total 546 
		
	
	Source:
	These data were extracted from DEFRA's disease control system (DCS) database on 31 October 2001 at 15.45. The figures may be subject to some change as quality assurance of data on DCS is carried out

Energy Efficiency

Dave Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures her Department is putting in place to promote energy efficiency.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 1 November 2001
	The Department is taking the lead on a range of measures to promote energy efficiency including:
	We are consulting on the Energy Efficiency Commitment for 2002–05, which will place an obligation on gas and electricity suppliers to make energy efficiency improvements, through measures provided to their domestic consumers.
	The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme, a programme costing over £150 million in 2001–02, is targeted on fuel poverty and is designed to improve the energy efficiency of 800,000 homes by 2004.
	The Department provides the Energy Saving Trust and the Carbon Trust with over £65 million of funding in 2001–02, to support their work of promoting energy efficiency in the domestic and non-domestic sectors of the economy.
	The Market Transformation Programme, worth £545,000 in 2001–02, encourages the deployment and take-up of energy efficient domestic appliances.

Common Agricultural Policy

Julia Drown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the joint public statement made on 30 July by the French and German Agriculture Ministers on the future direction of the Common Agricultural Policy; and if she will place an English version of the statement in the Library.

Elliot Morley: On 30 July, French and German media published an article reporting an agreed statement by the French and German Governments on the Common Agricultural Policy. This is an interesting document which recognises the need for further reform and in many ways covers similar themes to those put forward by the United Kingdom Government. We continue to work closely with the French and German Governments and with other member states in developing ideas for reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.
	I have placed an English translation of this statement in the Library of the House. However as the French and German language texts differ it is not possible to produce a single simple translation.

European Water Framework Directive

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment her Department has made of the implications in England and Wales of the European Water Framework Directive; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: The implications of the directive are set out in the regulatory impact assessment (RIA) included in the "First Consultation Paper on the Implementation of the EC Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC)", which was published jointly by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the National Assembly for Wales in March this year. A copy of the consultation paper is in the House of Commons Library.

Dogs (Byelaw Applications)

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to allow local authorities to determine byelaws banning dogs from public places without reference to her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: Local authorities have to apply to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, who determines byelaws on the grounds of whether they are reasonable, both to members of the public and to dog owners. A byelaw is a local law, which is made by a statutory body, such as a local authority, under an enabling power established by Act of Parliament. Byelaws create criminal offences and cannot come into effect unless they have been confirmed by a Secretary of State. There are no plans to change this policy.

Biomass Energy

Tom Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assistance and opportunities exist for farmers to diversify their land use towards growing crops for the production of energy from biomass.

Michael Meacher: The Energy Crops Scheme, part of the England Rural Development Programme, makes £29 million of assistance available to farmers over seven years. This includes establishment grants for short rotation coppice and miscanthus and up to 50 per cent. of set-up costs for short rotation coppice growers forming producer groups. In addition, farmers may benefit from planting grants under the Woodland Grant Scheme and the Farm Woodlands Premium Scheme, and woodland maintenance grants under the WGS. We are working closely with Government Departments and other bodies to develop market opportunities for biomass in power generation, combined heat and power and heat applications.

London Waste

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department has taken to monitor the safety of waste disposed of by London Waste; and if she will make a statement on the toxicity of this waste.

Michael Meacher: London Waste produces two ash streams from the Edmonton incinerator: bottom ash which is not classified as hazardous and air pollution control (APC) residues which are classified as hazardous and are disposed of separately and safely to appropriately licensed landfill sites.
	The Environment Agency is responsible for the regulation of waste disposal operations, including those undertaken by London Waste, in order to safeguard human health and protect the environment.
	As a result of recent concerns about the use of ash from the Edmonton incinerator, the Environment Agency is carrying out a thorough investigation into the destinations of ash from all municipal waste incinerators, the environmental implications of its use and what steps may be needed in the light of these findings. The results of the Environment Agency's investigations will be made public.

Incinerators

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to introduce tougher controls on emissions from existing municipal incinerators; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: The recently adopted Waste Incineration Directive 2000/76/EC sets minimum standards for a variety of plants that burn waste, including municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs). The UK Government are committed to transposing the EU Waste Incineration Directive, into UK law by 28 December 2002. Its provisions will apply to all new incinerators by this date, and to existing plant by 28 December 2005. This directive tightens dioxin limits to 0.1 ng/m 3 (0.1 billionth of a gram). This standard will be the maximum amount of dioxin permitted to be emitted from MSWIs.
	There is no dioxin limit in the Municipal Waste Incineration Directives (89/429/EEC and 89/369/EEC). In 1996 the Environment Agency chose to implement a 1.0 ng/m 3 emission limit as achievable using the best available technique not entailing excessive cost (BATNEEC). In 2000 the Agency took a similar decision on BATNEEC and MSWIs were required to either (i) reduce dioxin limits to 0.1 ng/m 3 (that is 10 times lower than the earlier limit); or (ii) on plant which could immediately achieve that level, to report on how they would achieve it. As a result, we estimate that dioxin emissions from incinerators in the UK have fallen several hundred-fold.
	The Environment Agency intends to review the performance of existing MSWIs before the Waste Incineration Directive applies.

Scrapie

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate her Department has made of the total number of sheep in the national flock possessing the genotype susceptible to scrapie.

Elliot Morley: There is currently only very limited information available on the distribution in the national flock of the 15 known genotypes that determine levels of susceptibility and resistance to scrapie. It is not therefore possible at this stage to produce reliable estimates. However, the limited data available suggest that about one quarter of the breeding ram population may be resistant to scrapie, and about two thirds of the slaughter population may be at least semi-resistant. There will be significant variation between different sheep breeds. It should be possible to produce more reliable estimates as an increasing number of breeding sheep come to be genotyped under the national scrapie plan.

Scrapie

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures her Department is implementing to eradicate scrapie from the national sheep flock; and if she will list the number of livestock culled by county in each year since May 1997.

Elliot Morley: The Government launched a national scrapie plan for Great Britain in July. This will breed resistance to scrapie into the national flock.
	The plan has initially been targeted at producers of purebred, pedigree breeding sheep registered with a recognised breed society. We are currently consulting about rapid extension of the plan to the remainder of the pure breeding flock, including special action for scrapie-infected flocks. We are considering other ways of speeding up implementation of the plan and on 31 October we published a Bill that would allow the Government to take powers to remove from the breeding flock, on a compulsory basis, sheep with genotypes that make them susceptible to scrapie.
	We are also consulting on ways to encourage the reporting of scrapie when it occurs, and next year we will be undertaking a survey to gain more knowledge of the incidence of scrapie, using rapid testing methods.
	The figures for the number of confirmed scrapie cases by county in each year since May 1997 are presented in the table provided.
	
		Cases of scrapie confirmed in sheep, by county, since May 1997
		
			  1997(24) 1998 1999 2000 2001(25) 
		
		
			 England  
			 Derbyshire 0 4 13 9 0 
			 Leicestershire and Rutland 3 7 17 5 1 
			 Lincolnshire excluding North 2 1 1 0 0 
			 Northamptonshire 0 5 4 1 2 
			 Nottinghamshire 1 2 6 3 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Bedfordshire 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Essex 0 2 3 1 3 
			 Norfolk 7 8 16 5 0 
			 Suffolk 5 13 6 5 1 
			 Cleveland and Darlington 3 23 22 8 0 
			 Durham 3 2 1 1 1 
			 Northumberland 2 2 5 9 3 
			 Cheshire 0 0 0 35 9 
			 Cumbria 26 39 62 40 6 
			 Lancashire 4 13 7 3 1 
			 Buckinghamshire 9 7 6 9 7 
			 East Sussex 0 3 4 0 1 
			 Hampshire 7 10 0 1 0 
			 Isle of Wight 8 5 1 2 2 
			 Kent 4 3 2 3 0 
			 Oxfordshire 58 57 30 17 8 
			 Surrey 0 1 4 3 0 
			 West Sussex 2 4 4 2 1 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 2 6 13 23 16 
			 Devon 6 18 71 67 37 
			 Dorset 1 10 4 1 1 
			 Gloucestershire excluding South 0 3 3 3 0 
			 Northern Somerset and South Gloucestershire 1 0 0 2 0 
			 Somerset excluding North 2 23 8 12 1 
			 Wiltshire 7 8 13 17 3 
			 Herefordshire 3 1 0 0 2 
			 Shropshire 2 7 7 8 1 
			 Staffordshire 0 1 1 0 0 
			 Warwickshire 2 10 6 15 4 
			 Worcestershire 0 1 0 1 0 
			 East Riding and Northern Lincoln 0 2 1 1 0 
			 North Yorkshire 15 20 36 46 12 
			 South Yorkshire 0 3 1 0 0 
			 West Yorkshire 1 1 1 0 0 
			  186 326 380 358 123 
			 Scotland  
			 Clyde Valley 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Dunfries and Galloway 2 8 0 2 0 
			 Fife 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Highland 0 2 1 6 6 
			 Lothian 0 0 1 1 0 
			 North East Scotland 1 1 3 5 2 
			 Orkney 0 3 7 2 3 
			 Scottish borders 0 0 7 4 0 
			 Shetland 60 90 91 64 37 
			 Tayside 1 1 2 0 0 
			  65 105 112 85 46 
			 Wales  
			 Carmarthenshire 20 28 29 40 9 
			 Ceredigion 2 0 1 3 0 
			 North East Wales 11 16 33 51 11 
			 North West Wales 1 6 26 13 2 
			 Pembrokeshire 0 0 0 0 2 
			 Powys 4 17 16 17 0 
			 South Wales 3 1 0 1 0 
			  41 68 105 125 24 
			 Total 292 499 597 568 195 
		
	
	(24) May to December
	(25) January to September
	Notes:
	Confirmation is by pathological tests (normally at least two types)
	Figures for 2001 exclude pending cases awaiting a test result, and will be lower for the same period in the previous year because of the foot and mouth outbreak

Scrapie

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department has taken to establish a scheme for the valuation of sheep flocks and the payment of compensation for livestock to be destroyed under her proposed special measures for the elimination of scrapie from the national flock.

Elliot Morley: The Animal Health Bill was published on 31 October and includes an enabling power allowing Ministers to pay compensation for losses or costs incurred as a result of the provisions relating to scrapie in the Bill. If the scrapie provisions were activated, a decision would need to be taken at the time on whether compensation was appropriate. If a decision to pay compensation were taken, the details would be set out in supplementary regulations.

Beef

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the potential for recovery in the beef export market; and if she will calculate the percentage take-up of British beef exports in individual (a) European Union countries and (b) countries outside the European Union.

Elliot Morley: It is not possible to make a realistic assessment because recovery of our beef exports to EU and other countries depends on many factors including the number of plants which seek approval to export under the Date-Based Export Scheme (DBES); the conditions of DBES; the results of our testing programme, access to markets in France and other countries which currently ban British beef; consumer confidence in target countries and currency values. The Government will continue to work closely with the industry and others to facilitate exports as far as possible.

British Waterways

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what powers she has to remove the (a) Chief Executive and (b) Chair of the British Waterways Board from their positions.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 30 October 2001
	The Chairman of the British Waterways Board is appointed by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, after consultation with Scottish Ministers under section 1 of the Transport Act 1962. The appointment is subject to standard terms and conditions allowing the Secretary of State by written notice to terminate the appointment. The Chief Executive of the British Waterways Board is appointed by, and is responsible to, the Board.

Agrimonetary Compensation

Jackie Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if the Government will draw down the latest available amount of EU agrimonetary compensation for UK arable farmers.

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will claim the next available tranche of agrimonetary compensation by 31 October; and if she will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has to apply by the end of October for agrimonetary compensation from the European Union to aid arable farmers.

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if it is the policy of her Department to claim the outstanding arable agrimonetary compensation from the European Commission; whether it is her policy to submit a formal request for such moneys before the end of October; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  if she will apply for agrimonetary compensation for arable farmers before 31 October; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what representations she has made to the EU to access agrimonetary compensation for arable farmers; when she made them; and with what results.

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government have taken to claim the outstanding arable agrimonetary compensation packages for which farmers are eligible before the closing date.

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what considerations the Government have given to claiming the money available to UK cereal farmers from the EU agrimonetary compensation scheme by 31 October; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: I refer the hon. Members to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Pound) on 31 October 2001, Official Report, column 738W.

Combined Heat and Power

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much CHP capacity has been put out of service since the new electricity trading arrangements commenced.

Michael Meacher: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Joan Ruddock) on 17 October 2001, Official Report, column 1250W.

Pesticides Safety Directorate

Brian White: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what has been the outcome of the Quinquennial and Better Quality Services Reviews of the Pesticides Safety Directorate.

Margaret Beckett: After having undertaken both a consultation exercise and detailed reviews of the functions, form and performance of the Pesticides Safety Directorate over the past five years, I have concluded that they should remain an executive agency for another term. The reviews established that the retention of agency status would be the most appropriate means of delivering high quality and cost effective services over the next five years.
	The Better Quality Services stage of the reviews has specifically identified measures to ensure continuous improvement in PSD's quality of service and cost effectiveness.

New Forest

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proposals she has to introduce legislation requiring the proposed New Forest National Park Authority to use its powers in respect of the commonable lands of the New Forest in consultation with the Verderers of the New Forest; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: It is too early to make any statement about Government proposals to introduce legislation for a proposed New Forest National Park Authority. We are awaiting the Countryside Agency's recommendation on the designation of a New Forest National Park and expect this early in 2002. Should the Agency submit a designation order to my right hon. Friend (the Secretary of State) for confirmation, it will be accompanied by their advice on administrative arrangements.
	The Agency has recently completed a three-month public consultation period on the administrative arrangements for a proposed New Forest National Park, including the need for special guidance for a National Park Authority, the membership of the Authority and its relationship with the Verderers. They are currently considering the responses received.

Urban Bus Challenge

Ian Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will announce the results of the Urban Bus Challenge Competition.

Sally Keeble: I have been asked to reply.
	We have today announced the 32 projects that have been successful in this year's competition, totalling £15.3 million. The projects are as listed.
	
		
			 Authority Title of bid approved Total cost (£) 
		
		
			 Blackpool Lifestyle line. Bus service for residents of two deprived wards to areas of employment and the hospital 809,225 
			 Bristol Lawrence Weston Transport Group. Bus service for residents of deprived ward to shops, clinics and other local facilities 63,000 
			 Essex Harlow Community Transport dial a ride scheme. Reduce social exclusion in deprived area 146,000 
			 Greater Manchester Wythenshawe demand response service. Improved access to health and employment facilities 682,000 
			  Call centre for demand responsive bus services. Co-ordination of demand response services 70,000 
			  Oldham. Bus service access between residential area and employment area 345,500 
			 Halton Daresbury Park. Provide bus service to areas of employment 122,850 
			  Accessible Transport. Provide mini bus to employment and training opportunities for disabled people 70,675 
			 Hampshire Leigh Park Links. Demand response service providing access to areas of employment, leisure and healthcare opportunities, particularly for unemployed young people 460,700 
			 Hartlepool Improved transport and infrastructure services. Extended bus service to industrial estate and provision of evening and Sunday service 185,650 
			 Lancashire Skelmersdale demand responsive transit project. Provide access links to areas of employment 619,062 
			 Leicester Community service for Braunstone. Local estate access to employment an shopping facilities 1,130,000 
			 Merseyside Atlantic Gateway demand response service. Provide deprived wards access to areas of employment 624,000 
			  Huyton/Prescot demand response service. Provide access to areas of employment 480,000 
			  Kirby/Gillmoss demand response service. Provide access to areas of employment 624,000 
			 Norfolk Lowestoft corridor bus. Provide improved bus and evening taxi-bus service to areas of employment 926,562 
			 Northumberland Connecting Blyth. Improved linkage of service to provide more direct links to employment opportunities 1,074,000 
			 Nottinghamshire Mansfield. Provide deprived wards access to employment opportunities 373,495 
			 Plymouth East/West corridor link. Provide connecting services to deprived residential areas at times required by shift patterns 190,000 
			 South Yorkshire Parson Cross. Community bus service to stimulate community activity and new interchange facility 335,000 
			 Stoke on Trent Health. Provide demand response service connecting three wards within Stoke to new healthcentre 733,500 
			 Telford and Wrekin Integrated Taxi Network. Link residential area with centres of employment and bus interchange sites through provision of shuttle bus to three industrial estates 615,013 
			 Thurrock Demand response service. Provide service from deprived urban community to integrate with existing community local bus service 263,307 
			 Transport for London Hammersmith. Provide improved access for staff, patients and visitors to Hammersmith, Queens Charlotte and Charing Cross Hospitals 425,000 
			 Tyne and Wear West Newcastle. Provide better access to employment opportunities to deprived areas of West Newcastle 431,214 
			 Warwickshire Camp Hill. Address current shortfall in transport provision to employment opportunities 561,088 
			 West Midlands Birchfield. Provision of community bus to provide regular day, evening and Sunday service 296,236 
			  Community transport. Provide prison visitors easier access to prisons in West Midlands 321,750 
			  Dudley. Provision of school mini bus service for children and particularly disabled children who use taxis 232,104 
			 West Yorkshire East Leeds. Provide deprived wards access to employment opportunities 633,000 
			  Leeds Buddying scheme. Provide personal assistance, support and training to elderly and disabled people to enable them to use public transport 240,000 
			 Worcestershire Provide a new high frequency cross-city bus service and demand responsive orbital minibus to assist four deprived wards 1,224,000 
			   
			 Total  15,307,931